How to say "occasion" in Japanese

• 際さいJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounCovers 'occasion' as the specific juncture at which something happens — 'at the time of', 'when'. Typical when stating what to do at that juncture, and its '(in) case of' sense also lets it frame a condition.
  火事かじの際さいは１１９番ばんに電話でんわしてください。↗

  In the case of fire, dial 119.
• 場合ばあいJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounCovers 'occasion' in the sense of 'case' or 'situation' — 'in this case', 'if that is the case'. It frames circumstances or conditions rather than a single moment, so it suits hypothetical and general statements.
  この規則きそくはどんな場合ばあいにでも当あてはまる。↗

  This rule applies to any case.
• 節せつJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThough it means 'occasion; time', in practice it is essentially limited to the set phrase その節は, thanking someone for help 'on that occasion'; otherwise seldom the word you want.
  こちらにお出ででの節せつは、どうぞお立ち寄たちよりください。↗

  Please drop in when you come this way.
• 時点じてんCommon
  nounReally a point or stage in time — 'at this point', 'as of then'. Seldom the word you want for 'occasion'; think 'point in time', not an event or an opportunity.
  神かみ様さまの名前なまえはやっぱりＮＧだと思おもうよ〜。もう名なづけた時点じてんで名前なまえ負まけなわけじゃん。↗

  I think a god's name has got to be out. From the moment the kid's named you know he's not going to be able to live up to it!
• 機会きかいJLPT N4approx.Common
  noun'Occasion' as an opportunity or chance to do something — 'I had occasion to', 'on every occasion'. Not a single moment or a social event; when you mean 'chance', this is the word.
  またの機会きかいにしましょう。↗

  Let's make it some other time.

For 'occasion' meaning a case or situation use 場合, for the juncture something happens use 際, for an opportunity use 機会; 時点 is a point in time, 節 survives only in set phrases, and none covers a social event.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 際さいoccasion
• 場合ばあいcase
• 節せつoccasion
• 時点じてんpoint in time
• 機会きかいchance
• ついでopportunity
• 折おりopportunity
• きっかけchance
• 時機じきopportunity
• ばやいcase
• みぎりtime
• 機宜きぎopportuneness
• 場所柄ばしょがらcharacter of a place
• きかっけchance
• 時ときoccasion
• 期きopportunity
• 暁あかつきevent (e.g. "in the event of ...")
• 場ばoccasion
• 時節じせつopportunity
• 段だんstage (in a process)
• 幕まくcase