Learning Japanese with Manga(Beginner Level)-TOKIDOKI

Today’s expression is ときどき（TOKIDOKI）.
TOKIDOKI means ‘sometimes’, from my teaching experience, TOKIDOKI is the most popular Japanese word. Many Japanese learners say TOKIDOKI sounds very cute. Today we are going to practice some ‘frequency’ expressions including TOKIDOKI.

はれ ときどき くもり

Let us show you an example from manga.

早子先生、婚活の時間です 立木早子 - マンガをTwitterに無料で使える！「マンガルー」

script

しごと は たのしいです。たまに いやな ことも あるけど
(SHIGOTO WA TANOSHII DESU. TAMANI IYANA KOTO MO ARU KEDO)

(SHIGOTO WA TANOSHII DESU. TAMANI IYANA KOTO MO ARU KEDO)

ちょきんも そこそこ あります
(CHOKIN MO SOKOSOKO ARIMASU)

(CHOKIN MO SOKOSOKO ARIMASU)

しあわせだ とおもいます
(SHIAWASE DA TO OMOIMASU)

(SHIAWASE DA TO OMOIMASU)

なのに ときどき さびしくなるのは なぜですか
(NANONI TOKIDOKI SABISHIKUNARU NO WA NAZE DESU KA)

(NANONI TOKIDOKI SABISHIKUNARU NO WA NAZE DESU KA)

ときどき is made from 2 hiraganas, (と , き）so it is not too difficult to write TOKIDOKI in hiragana♪

• ど（DO）needs 2 dots at top right of と(TO).

と（TO）

き（KI）

ときどき（TOKIDOKI）means ‘sometimes’. We can practice some Japanese words including tokidoki today so you can talk about how often you do things.

You can add TOKIDOKI（ときどき） before each verb.

For example…
ときどき たべます(tokidoki tabemasu) → I sometimes eat it.
ときどき いきます(tokidoki ikimasu) →I sometimes go.
a bit longer sentences…
わたしは ときどき すしを たべます
(Watashi wa sushi o tokidoki tabemasu)
わたしは ときどき にほんに いきます
(Watashi wa tokidoki nihon ni ikimasu)

You can change TOKIDOKI into other words.

いつも たべます(Itsumo tabemasu)- always, usually
よく たべます(Yoku tabemasu)-often
たまに たべます(Tamani tabemasu)-occasionally

But some frequency words take a negative form.
あまり たべません(Amari tabemasen)-not very often
ぜんぜん たべません(Zenzen tabemasen)-not at all

Can you answer the questions below with ITSUMO, YOKU, TOKIDOKI, TAMANI, AMARI or ZENZEN?

よく テレビを みますか？(Yoku terebi o mimasu ka?)
Do you often watch TV?

よく ピザを たべますか？(Yoku pizza o tabemasu ka?)
Do you often eat pizza?

よく にほんに いきますか？(Yoku nihon ni ikimasu ka?)
Do you often go to Japan?