「…的时候」 "…de shíhou"

「…的时候」（"…de shíhou"）means “(verb/phrase) + 的时候 means 'when...' or 'while...', marking the time of an action.”. Put 的时候 after a verb, adjective, or clause to mean 'at the time of / when'. Formation: 动词/形容词/短语 + 的时候

(verb/phrase) + 的时候 means 'when...' or 'while...', marking the time of an action.

HSK2

Formation

动词/形容词/短语 + 的时候

Explanation

Put 的时候 after a verb, adjective, or clause to mean 'at the time of / when'. It usually opens the sentence to set the time frame: 我小的时候 (when I was little), 吃饭的时候 (while eating). English 'when' comes first, but 的时候 comes at the end of its clause.

Examples

我 小的时候 很瘦。
wǒ xiǎo de shíhou hěn shòu.
When I was little, I was thin.
吃饭的时候 不要说话。
chī fàn de shíhou bú yào shuō huà.
Don't talk while eating.

Note

的时候 goes AFTER the clause it refers to, not before. ❌ 的时候我小 ✅ 我小的时候.

FAQ

「…的时候」 — what does it mean and how is it used?

(verb/phrase) + 的时候 means 'when...' or 'while...', marking the time of an action.. Put 的时候 after a verb, adjective, or clause to mean 'at the time of / when'. It usually opens the sentence to set the time frame: 我小的时候 (when I was little), 吃饭的时候 (while eating). English 'when' comes first, but 的时候 comes at the end of its clause.

「…的时候」 — how do you form it?

动词/形容词/短语 + 的时候

「…的时候」 — any usage notes?

的时候 goes AFTER the clause it refers to, not before. ❌ 的时候我小 ✅ 我小的时候.

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