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    時計がゾロ目になるとき (when the clock shows matching digits)

    Grammar & Usage

    fixed expression
    neutral

    How it works

    This phrase is a subordinate clause indicating 'when' an event occurs. '時計 (tokei)' is the subject 'clock', followed by the particle 'が (ga)'. 'ゾロ目 (zorome)' refers to identical digits (e.g., 11:11, 2:22). 'になる (ni naru)' means 'to become' or 'to turn into', and 'とき (toki)' means 'when' or 'at the time'.

    Sample sentences

    時計がゾロ目になるとき、いつも願い事をします。

    When the clock shows matching digits, I always make a wish.

    11時11分に時計がゾロ目になる瞬間を写真に撮りました。

    I took a photo of the moment the clock showed 11:11, matching digits.

    今日、何度も時計がゾロ目になるときに遭遇しました。

    Today, I encountered the clock showing matching digits many times.

    Quick facts

    cultural_nuance:Seeing 'ゾロ目' (zorome) on a clock (e.g., 11:11, 22:22) is often considered a small lucky sign or a moment to make a wish in Japanese popular culture, similar to 'angel numbers' in other cultures.
    ゾロ目_meaning_extension:While literally 'matching digits', ゾロ目 can also refer to consecutive identical numbers in other contexts, like dice rolls (e.g., three sixes).

    Mnemonic

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    Example

    時計がゾロ目になるとき、いつも願い事をします。

    When the clock shows matching digits, I always make a wish.

    11時11分に時計がゾロ目になる瞬間を写真に撮りました。

    I took a photo of the moment the clock showed 11:11, matching digits.

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