时候 shíhou time
time; moment; when
How to remember 时候: 时 time + 候 waiting for = time.
Characters
How it is used
- 'When / the time that' - …的时候: 吃饭的时候别看手机 (chīfàn de shíhou bié kàn shǒujī) don't look at your phone while eating.
- The question form is 什么时候 (shénme shíhou) when?; 时候 is a point/moment, unlike 时间 (a duration).
- 候 is toneless (shíhou).
Example sentences
- 它什么时候到？ Tā shénme shíhòu dào?When does it arrive?
- 你什么时候睡觉？ Nǐ shénme shíhòu shuìjiào?When is your bedtime?
- 这时候天黑了。 Zhè shíhou tiān hēi le.The sun went down at this time.