Chinese Grammar Bank
WHEN WITH 的时候 AND 时
Have you ever wanted to say “when I was a child” or “when I was in university” but don’t know how?
We will teach you how to use 的时候 (de shíhòu) and 时 (shí) to say “when”; one of the common ways to say “when” in Chinese.
“WHEN” WITH 的时候
As you’re speaking, you’ll often use 的时候 to talk about a time of an event; when it happens or is happening like “when I go to school” or “when I was younger”.
的时候 might be used after the subject and verb/adjective (or after a time phrase) to talk about something that occurred during a particular time.
PATTERN
Subject + Verb/Adjective + 的时候
PATTERN
Time Word/Phrase + 的时候
“WHEN” WITH 时
Using 时 (shí) is similar to using 的时候. 时 is a shorter and more formal way to express when.
时 is added after a time to say when something happens, is happening or happened. Here the subject can come before or after a time and 时.
PATTERN
(Subject) + Time + 时 (+ Subject)
USING 当 WITH 的时候 AND 时
当 (dāng) can be added before a phrase to mean “when”. Here, 的时候 or 时 may be added after the phrase or left out.
PATTERN
当 + Phrase + (的时候 / 时)
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FAQs
What is the sentence structure for 的时候?
的时候 can go with verbs, adjectives and time words or phrases.
With verbs/adjectives: Subject + Verb/Adjective + 的时候
With time words/phrases: Time word/phrase + 的时候
What is the sentence structure for 时?
时 can be used with time and the subject can come before of after it.
Before: Subject + Time + 时
After: Time + 时 + Subject
What are some sentences with 的时候？
– 我小的时候去过北京。
wǒ xiǎo de shíhòu qùguò běijīng.
I went to Beijing when I was young.
– 雨停了的时候，我们就回家。
yǔ tíngle de shíhòu, wǒmen jiù huí jiā.
When it stops raining, we’ll go home.
– 在北京的时候，我把手机丢了。
zài běijīng de shíhòu, wǒ bǎ shǒujī diūle.
I lost my phone when I was in Beijing.
What are some example sentences with 时？
– 过马路时要小心。
guò mǎlù shí yào xiǎoxīn.
Be careful when crossing the road.
– 她生气时别打扰她。
tā shēngqì shí bié dǎrǎo tā
Don’t bother her when she’s angry.
– 她年轻时很漂亮。
tā niánqīng shí hěn piàoliang.
She was beautiful when she was young.
How to use 当 with 的时候 or 时?
当 is put before a phrase and 的时候/时 is put after the phrase to mean “when”. 的时候/时 may be left out.
当 + phrase + (的时候/时)
– 当过马路的时候要小心。
guò mǎlù shí yào xiǎoxīn.
Be careful when crossing the road.
– 当我长大时，我想去中国旅行。
dāng wǒ zhǎng dà shí, wǒ xiǎng qù zhōngguó lǚxíng.
When I grow up, I want to travel to China.
– 当她生气时别打扰她。
tā shēngqì shí bié dǎrǎo tā
Don’t bother her when she’s angry.
Where can I find more grammar lessons?
There are more Chinese grammar lessons like this one in our Chinese Grammar Bank.
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