时候

shí hou

time

HSK 1

Character Breakdown

Basic Meaning

"时候" (shíhou) refers to a specific point or period in time. It is often used to indicate when something happens or happened.

Usage in Questions and Statements

It frequently appears in questions about time, such as "什么时候...?" (When do you...?). It can also be used to describe habitual or past actions during a certain time, e.g., "小时" (when I was young).

Common Collocations

These collocations help specify the time frame more clearly. "时候" is neutral in tone and widely used in both spoken and written Mandarin.

Example Sentences

我小时候喜欢玩足球。

Wǒ xiǎoshíhou xǐhuān wán zúqiú.

I liked playing soccer when I was a child.

你什么时候有空?

Nǐ shénme shíhou yǒu kòng?

When do you have free time?

吃饭的时候不要玩手机。

Chīfàn de shíhou bú yào wán shǒujī.

Don’t play with your phone while eating.