A2 · Grammar reference · ASGWN185
Expressing "when" with "de shihou"
In English, if we are reflecting on a past time, we often say, "when I was a child" or "when I was in school." In Chinese, this can also be expressed by using 的时候 (de shíhou).
- Keywords
- 的时候 · 时候 · 时 · when · while
- Used for
- Expressing time and date · Referring to simultaneous events
- Classification
- Nouns · HSK2
Examples (10)
你不在的时候,我会想你。
我上大学的时候,有很多朋友。
上课的时候不要吃东西。
老板工作的时候喜欢喝咖啡。
我生气的时候,请你不要笑。
妈妈不在家的时候,我自己做饭。
开会的时候不要聊天。
吃东西的时候不要说话。
你开车的时候会打电话吗?
走路的时候不要玩手机。
Further resources
Learn from another explanation
No editorial pick yet for this exact pattern.
Editorial picks are checked for a close topic match. Search results and external content belong to their publishers and may change.
Summary, structure, classification, and adapted sentence examples draw from the AllSet Learning Chinese Grammar Wiki under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0; changes were made. This noncommercial reference is based on an October 2023 snapshot.
Related points