有
yǒu
To have
有时 (yǒu shí) / 有时候 (yǒu shí hòu) — sometimes
Subj. + 有时 (yǒushí) / 有时候 (yǒushíhou) + Verb phrase
HSK 23.0
Pattern diagram
Who / what有时有时候Action
Rule structure
有时 (yǒushí) and 有时候 (yǒushíhou) are time adverbs placed before the predicate that express irregular recurrence: an action happens only on some occasions, not always. The form 有时候 (yǒushíhou) is more colloquial, while 有时 (yǒushí) is more compact; in meaning they are interchangeable. The adverb does not express regularity like 经常 (jīng cháng) (jīngcháng), nor does it point to a specific moment.
Rule structure
有时 (yǒushí) and 有时候 (yǒushíhou) are time adverbs placed before the predicate that express irregular recurrence: an action happens only on some occasions, not always. The form 有时候 (yǒushíhou) is more colloquial, while 有时 (yǒushí) is more compact; in meaning they are interchangeable. The adverb does not express regularity like 经常 (jīng cháng) (jīngcháng), nor does it point to a specific moment.
Examples
我有时候走路去上班。
Wǒ yǒushíhou zǒulù qù shàngbān.
I sometimes walk to work.
他有时坐地铁上班。
Tā yǒushí zuò dìtiě shàngbān.
He sometimes takes the subway to work.
Examples
我有时候走路去上班。
Wǒ yǒushíhou zǒulù qù shàngbān.
I sometimes walk to work.
他有时坐地铁上班。
Tā yǒushí zuò dìtiě shàngbān.
He sometimes takes the subway to work.
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Words from this rule
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “sometimes” in Chinese with 有时 / 有时候?
Use the structure: Subj. + 有时 (yǒushí) / 有时候 (yǒushíhou) + Verb phrase. For example: 我有时候走路去上班。 — “I sometimes walk to work”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
我有时候走路去上班。 — “I sometimes walk to work”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 3.0 Level 2.
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More HSK 3.0 Level 2 grammar rules
别 — negative commands
别 (bié) + Verb
都…还 — already, and still
Subj. + 都 (dōu) + Predicate
还 — still
Subj. + 还 (hái) + Verb Phrase / Adj.
就 — early action
Subj. + Time + 就 (jiù) + Verb + 了 (le)
常 / 经常 — often, frequently
Subj. + 常 (cháng) / 经常 (jīngcháng) + Verb phrase
就要 — about to happen
(还有 (háiyǒu) + Time Period) + 就要 (jiùyào) + Verb Phrase + 了 (le)
都 + time — already
都 (dōu) + Time + 了 (le)
还是 — had better
Subj. + 还是 (háishi) + Verb Phrase (+ 吧 (ba))