时候

shí hou

CL 个 gè 段 duàn

HSK 2.0 Level 1 HSK 3.0 Level 1 Noun Very common

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Definitions

1. time
2. length of time
3. moment
4. period

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Word relationships

Related words

3 items

• 时刻 shí kè 时刻 shí kè time 特定时候: time
• 时期 shí qī 时期 shí qī period 一段时候: period
• 时机 shí jī 时机 shí jī fortunate timing 做某事的好时候: fortunate timing

Synonyms

1 item

• 时间 shí jiān 时间 shí jiān time 时候和时间的区别: time

Usage notes

Collocations

Often used with 在 or 当 to form 在...的时候 (when...).

Common mistakes

时候 refers to a specific point or period, not an abstract concept like 时间. Say 没有时间 (not 没有时候) for 'no time'.

Example Sentences

5 shown

天冷的 时候 ，他不停地搓手。

When it's cold, he keeps rubbing his hands together.

你什么 时候 回来？

When will you come back?

冬天的 时候 ，他冻得发抖。

In winter, he shivers from the cold.

冬天的 时候 ，房间里开着暖气很舒服。

In winter, it's very comfortable to have the heating on in the room.

炒菜的 时候 少放一点味精。

When stir-frying, add a little less MSG.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 时候

• 小时候 小时候 xiǎo shí hou: in one's childhood
• 有时候 有时候 yǒu shí hou: sometimes
• 那时候 那时候 nà shí hou: at that time
• 什么时候 什么时候 shén me shí hou: when?
• 到时候 到时候 dào shí hòu: when the moment comes
• 到那个时候 到那个时候 dào nà gè shí hòu: until this moment
• 古时候 古时候 gǔ shí hou: in ancient times
• 有的时候 有的时候 yǒu de shí hòu: sometimes
• 营业时候 营业时候 yíng yè shí hou: opening hours (shop, bank, restaurant)

Child Words of 时候

• 时 时 shí: o'clock
• 候 候 hòu: to wait