Chinese word

时候

Pronunciation

Pinyinshí hòu

Meaning

  • nountime

Example

我吃饭的时候不要打扰我。wǒ chī fàn de shí hòu bú yào dá rǎo wǒ

Don't disturb me when I eat.

Illustration for 时候 (time)

More examples

你什么时候回家？nǐ shén me shí hòu huí jiā

When will you go home?

Core concept

The time window in which an action or event takes place.

Common phrases

  • 什么时候shén me shí hòu

    when

  • 吃饭的时候chī fàn de shí hòu

    when eating

  • 上学的时候shàng xué de shí hòu

    when going to school

Similar words

时间shí jiān: The length or passing of time.
现在xiàn zài: The present moment.
天tiān: A day as a whole or as a unit for counting days.

Definition in Chinese

表示某一时间点或某一时间段的名词，常与动词连用，构成时间状语或时间从句。biǎo shì mǒu yì shí jiān diǎn huò mǒu yì shí jiān duàn de míng cí cháng yǔ dòng cí lián yòng gòu chéng shí jiān zhuàng yǔ huò shí jiān cóng jù

Word origin

The compound 时候 (shíhòu, "time") joins 时 (shí, "time") and 候 (hòu, "season or occasion") to name an event's time or occasion.

Usage tips

  • The usual pattern places 的时候 (de shíhòu, "when") after a clause, so it marks the time of that clause rather than acting alone as an English-style when-clause marker.

Other meanings

  • momentnoun
  • periodnoun

Word lists with this word