HSK Guide

时候時候 shíhou — time, moment

shíhou (second tone, rising)shi2hou5

Traditional: 時候

time, moment

HSK 1· HSK 1–4 (classic)noun
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Meanings

  1. time, moment

    A point or stretch of time. Its two everyday uses are 什么时候 "when?" and the pattern …的时候 "while / when …", which needs 的 before it.

    noun

  2. when (in 什么时候)

    noun

Character breakdown

  • 时時
    shí (second tone, rising)

    time; an hour; a season; when, at the time of

    7 strokes⿰日寸Radical 日

Example sentences

  • 你什么时候来？你什麼時候來？Nǐ (third tone, dipping) shénme (second tone, rising) shíhou (second tone, rising) lái? (second tone, rising)···

    When are you coming?

  • 我吃饭的时候不看电视。我吃飯的時候不看電視。Wǒ (third tone, dipping) chīfàn (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) shíhou (second tone, rising) bú (second tone, rising) kàn (fourth tone, falling) diànshì. (fourth tone, falling)···

    I don’t watch television while I’m eating.

Common mistakes

  • Not quite我吃饭时候看电视。

    Correct我吃饭的时候看电视。

    The clause in front of 时候 must be linked to it with 的. Dropping that 的 is one of the most persistent beginner slips.

Similar words

Words containing 时