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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).

Structure

(Subj.) + Verb / Adj. + 的 时候,....

Time Word + 的 时候,....

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。

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Full explanation at AllSet Learning

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.

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