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Expressing "when" with 时候 (shíhou) for general time
HSK 2Time Expressions
Structure
Verb Phrase + 的时候
Explanation
时候 (shíhou) means "when" or "at the time of" and is used to describe when an action takes place. It attaches to a verb phrase or clause to set the time context for the main action, as in "When I was young…"
Examples
我小时候，特别喜欢画画。
Wǒ xiǎo shíhou, tèbié xǐhuan huàhuà.
When I was little, I especially loved drawing.
你吃饭的时候，不要看手机。
Nǐ chīfàn de shíhou, bùyào kàn shǒujī.
Don't look at your phone while you're eating.
下雨的时候，街上的人特别少。
Xiàyǔ de shíhou, jiēshang de rén tèbié shǎo.
When it rains, there are very few people on the street.
Similar Grammar
- Expressing "when" with 时候 (shíhou) for specific momentsHSK 2
- Expressing "when" or "time" with 时 (shí)
- Expressing 'when' or 'at the time of' with 当 (dāng)
- Referring to time with 时 (shí)
- Expressing 'at the time of' with 时 (shí)
- Expressing 'when' or 'at the time of' with 当 (dāng)
- Expressing occasion with 逢 (féng)