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While studying for JLPT N2 I came across this expression `の折に`. It appears to
be _almost identical_ to `の時に`. My reference suggests that it's basically the
same, but simply less polite.

What I find suspicious is that I've been studying Japanese for quite a number
of years, and I have never seen or heard of this until now, and dictionaries
such as [アルク](http://eow.alc.co.jp/%E3%81%AE%E6%8A%98%E3%81%AB/UTF-8/) suggest
that it is not very common.

Is there a difference in meaning / nuance? Is it actually common and I've just
been blind all this time? (I wonder why it's not taught in any normal textbook
/ Japanese course in that case). Should I avoid it?

I would appreciate if anyone can shed some light onto the usage.
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2011-07-10T07:38:16.457
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2011-07-11T11:54:08.280
2011-07-11T04:29:49.567
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question
word-choice grammar
difference between ～の折に and ～の時に
`A の折に B` 'B on the occasion of A' may have the nuance that A is some special
occation and is not that frequent. `A の時に B` 'B when A' is neutral in this
respect. Depending on the context, this may make some difference.

I had thought that `折に` is rather the polite one. `折に` is slightly archaic or
formal, and you do not see it in casual conversation so often. That's probably
why you hadn't seen it; there was a reason for it.
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2011-07-10T08:06:34.053
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2011-07-10T08:06:34.053
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answer
My dictionary, A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar, says that the
difference between ori (折) and toki (時) is

S1 折に S2

> Toki "when" can be used in place of ori in most situations but without the
> nuance of "taking advantage of a good opportunity" or "doing something on a
> special occasion". Unlike ori, toki can be used in the following situations
>
> When S1 represents an undesirable occasion
>
> When the action in S2 is routine
>
> When the actions/events in S1 and S2 are not related
>
> When S1 represents a brief moment

Ori is also only used in formal writing and formal speeches. Ori is also
similar to Sai and Setsu.
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2011-07-10T14:02:09.363
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Sample sentences with 折. This seems to be used in greetings, and definitely
formal written communications:

  * ご多忙の折、恐縮ですが平成２２年３月１６日（火）までにご提出頂けますようお願いいたします。
  * 寒さの折から、お風邪など召しませぬよう
  * 暑さの折からくれぐれもお体をお大事に

The first example is from an email I received, the two others from a list of
"season greetings".

So the difference seems to be (1) use 折 in formal greetings, (2) use 折 in
formal communications as an "abstract" time, not to express something like
"during lunch". All the rest with 時, and you'll be good.
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2011-07-11T11:54:08.280
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