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

To talk about events that happened at or during a particular time, 的时候 (de shíhou) is often used. This is simply attached to the word or phrase indicating the time:

(Subj.) + Verb / Adj. + 的 时候， Subj. + Verb + Obj.

As time words can appear before or after the subject, you can also place the "Time + 的时候 (de shíhou)" after the subject.

Examples

• 你 不 在 的时候，我 会 想 你。Nǐ bù zài de shíhou, wǒ huì xiǎng nǐ. When you are not here, I'll miss you.
• 我 上 大学 的时候 有 很 多 女朋友。 Wǒ shàng dàxué de shíhou yǒu hěn duō nǚpéngyou. When I was in college, I had a lot of girlfriends.
• 上 课 的时候，不要 吃 东西。Shàng kè de shíhou, bùyào chī dōngxi. Don't eat when you are in the class.
• 老板 工作 的时候 喜欢 喝 咖啡。Lǎobǎn gōngzuò de shíhou xǐhuan hē kāfēi. When the boss works, he likes to drink coffee.
• 我 生气 的时候 请 你 不要 笑。Wǒ shēngqì de shíhou qǐng nǐ bùyào xiào. Please don't laugh when I'm angry.
• 妈妈 不 在 家 的时候 我 自己 做 饭。Māma bù zài jiā de shíhou wǒ zìjǐ zuòfàn. When mom is not home, I cook for myself.
• 开会 的时候 不要 聊天。Kāihuì de shíhou, bùyào liáotiān. Don't chat while you are at a meeting.
• 吃 东西 的时候 不要 说话。Chī dōngxi de shíhou bùyào shuōhuà. Don't talk while eating.
• 你 开车 的时候 会 打 电话 吗？Nǐ kāichē de shíhou huì dǎ diànhuà ma? Do you talk on the phone when you're driving?
• 走路 的时候 不要 玩手机。 Zǒulù de shíhou bùyào wán shǒujī. Don't play with your phone while walking.

See also

• Before a specific time
• In the future in general
• Comparing "yihou" and "de shihou"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 24-5) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (pp. 293-4) →buy