Difference between revisions of "Expressing "when the time comes" with "dao shihou""
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| − | Usually this grammar pattern starts with a statement to set things | + | Usually this grammar pattern starts with a statement to set things up (A), then the things that happens in the future is stated (B) after the 到时候. |
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*现在 不 好好 准备 考试，<em>到时候</em> 肯定 考 不好。<span class="trans">If you don't prepare well, then you won't do it well in the exam.</span> | *现在 不 好好 准备 考试，<em>到时候</em> 肯定 考 不好。<span class="trans">If you don't prepare well, then you won't do it well in the exam.</span> | ||
| − | *我 要 学 唱 中文 的 生日快乐 歌，<em>到时候</em> 唱 给 你们 听。<span class="trans">I want to learn the Chinese song "Happy Birthday" | + | *我 要 学 唱 中文 的 生日快乐 歌，<em>到时候</em> 唱 给 你们 听。<span class="trans">I want to learn the Chinese song "Happy Birthday." I'll sing for you guys when the time comes.</span> |
*你 先 自己 试 一 试，<em>到时候</em> 我 再 教 你。<span class="trans">You can give it a try first. I will teach you when the time comes.</span> | *你 先 自己 试 一 试，<em>到时候</em> 我 再 教 你。<span class="trans">You can give it a try first. I will teach you when the time comes.</span> | ||
Latest revision as of 00:36, 11 June 2024
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到时候(dào shíhou) basically means the same thing as "when the times comes." Usually "when the time comes" is pointing to a specific event in the future.
Contents
General use of "到时候"
Structure
Usually this grammar pattern starts with a statement to set things up (A), then the things that happens in the future is stated (B) after the 到时候.
……，到时候 + ……
Examples
- 现在 不 好好 准备 考试，到时候 肯定 考 不好。If you don't prepare well, then you won't do it well in the exam.
- 我 要 学 唱 中文 的 生日快乐 歌，到时候 唱 给 你们 听。I want to learn the Chinese song "Happy Birthday." I'll sing for you guys when the time comes.
- 你 先 自己 试 一 试，到时候 我 再 教 你。You can give it a try first. I will teach you when the time comes.
Commonly used expressions with 到时候
Examples
- 到时候 见。See you then.
- 到时候 看 吧。Let's see what we can do later.
- 到时候 再 说 吧。We will talk about that later when the time comes.
Sources and further reading
Books
- Exemplification of Common Sentence Patterns in Spoken Chinese 汉语口语常用句式例解 (P.63)→buy NEEDS LINK
- Short-term Spoken Chinese: Elementary (汉语口语速成基础篇)(P.199) →buy
- Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例) (p. 62)→buy
