Meaning and Usage
"当時" (とうじ) means "at that time" or "in those days," referring to a specific past period. It is often used to talk about a particular moment or era in the past, emphasizing the context or situation then.
Common Contexts
You will see "当時" used when recalling past events, describing someone's status or situation in the past, or comparing past and present conditions.
Collocations and Patterns
- 当時は (とうじは): "at that time" — used to set the time frame for a statement.
- 当時の + noun (とうじの + noun): "from that time" or "of that period" — used to describe things related to that past time, like 当時の写真 (photos from that time).
Register and Nuance
"当時" is neutral and appropriate in both spoken and written Japanese. It is slightly more formal than casual expressions like "そのころ" but can be used interchangeably in many contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "当時" with "今" (now) or "最近" (recently). Remember, "当時" always refers to a specific past time, not the present or recent past.