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How to say “when” in Chinese with 的时候 (de shíhou)

⋯⋯的时候 (de shíhou)

Expressing "when" with "的时候 (de shíhou)"

HSK 2Nouns

Rule structure

的时候 (de shíhou) is added to a verb phrase or time word to mean "when" or "at the time of…" It creates a time clause. The structure is VP / Time + 的时候 (de shíhou)，Main Clause.

Examples

我吃饭的时候在看电视。

Wǒ chīfàn de shíhòu zài kàn diànshì.

When I was eating, I was watching TV.

Practice

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Frequently asked questions

How do you express “Expressing "when" with "的时候 (de shíhou)"” in Chinese?

Use the structure: ⋯⋯的时候 (de shíhou). For example: 我吃饭的时候在看电视。 — “When I was eating, I was watching TV.”.

What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?

我吃饭的时候在看电视。 — “When I was eating, I was watching TV.”.

Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?

This grammar rule is part of HSK 2.

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