Meaning and Usage
"同時" means "at the same time" or "simultaneously." It is used to describe actions or events that occur concurrently.
Common Contexts
You will often see "同時" in situations involving multiple actions happening together, such as multitasking or synchronized events.
Collocations and Patterns
- 同時に (どうじに): an adverbial form meaning "simultaneously" or "at the same time."
- 同時開催 (どうじかいさい): simultaneous holding (of events).
- 同時進行 (どうじしんこう): simultaneous progress or proceeding.
Register and Nuance
"同時" is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It is common in written and spoken Japanese.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "同時" with "一緒に" (together). "同時" emphasizes timing, while "一緒に" emphasizes doing something together physically or socially. For example, "同時に話す" means speaking at the same time, whereas "一緒に話す" means talking together.