Chinese word

到时候

Pronunciation

Pinyindào shí hòu

Meaning

  • adverbwhen the time comes

Example

到时候我再告诉你。dào shí hòu wǒ zài gào sù nǐ

I'll tell you again when the time comes.

Illustration for 到时候 (when the time comes)

More examples

考试快到了，到时候别紧张。kǎo shì kuài dào le dào shí hòu bié jǐn zhāng

The exam is coming soon, so don't be nervous when the time comes.

Core concept

A marked moment ahead that holds a later action until its time arrives.

Common phrases

  • 到时候再说dào shí hòu zài shuō

    talk about it then

  • 到时候见面dào shí hòu jiàn miàn

    meet then

  • 到时候别迟到dào shí hòu bié chí dào

    don't be late then

Similar words

到时dào shí: When the arranged time arrives and the planned event can happen.
那时候nà shí hòu: At the time of the event under discussion.
当时dāng shí: At the moment or time when an event took place.

Definition in Chinese

表示在某一未定或特定的将来时间点，到达那一刻时才会发生某事或采取行动，常与“等”“如果”等连用构成时点或条件。biǎo shì zài mǒu yí wèi dìng huò tè dìng de jiāng lái shí jiān diǎn dào dá nà yí kè shí cái huì fā shēng mǒu shì huò cái qǔ xíng dòng cháng yǔ děng rú guǒ děng lián yòng gòu chéng shí diǎn huò tiáo jiàn

Word origin

The compound 到时候 (dàoshíhòu, "when the time comes") combines 到 (dào, "arrive") with 时候 (shíhòu, "time"), linking arrival at a time with what happens at that point.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Chinese, this word can keep a plan open without naming an exact date, which makes it useful when the timing depends on future conditions.

Other meanings

  • at that timeadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word