何时

• Pinyin: hé shí
• Hanzi breakdown: 何 = 亻+ 可 — interrogative pronoun; 时 = 日 (sun/day) + 寸 (inch/measure) — time/moment

Meaning

When; at what time. A formal or literary interrogative expression referring to an unspecified point in time.

The classical Chinese expression for 'when.' More formal and literary than 什么时候. Commonly found in poetry, formal discourse, rhetorical questions, and written Chinese. Often carries a tone of longing, uncertainty, or philosophical reflection. Rarely used in ordinary spoken Chinese.

Examples

1. 战争何时能够结束，世界何时能够真正迎来持久和平，是所有人心中最深切的期盼。 When will war finally end, and when will the world truly welcome lasting peace? That’s the deepest hope in everyone’s heart.
2. 他远赴他乡求学，不知何时才能与家人团聚，共享天伦。 He went far from home to study, not knowing when he’ll be able to reunite with his family and enjoy time together again.
3. 这一历史遗留的复杂问题，何时能得到妥善解决，各方都在密切关注。 When this complicated issue left over from history will be properly resolved is being closely watched by all sides.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, poetry, formal writing, rhetoric

Tone: literary / reflective

Do Say

• 改革何时能深入推进，取决于社会各方面条件的成熟程度。(When the reforms can be advanced in depth depends on the maturity of conditions across all areas of society.)
• 漂泊已久，不知归路，何时是归期，何处是故乡。(Long adrift with no way home — when will the time to return come, and where does home now lie?)

Don't Say

• 何时 in casual spoken Chinese — use 什么时候 instead; 何时 sounds archaic and overly formal in everyday conversation

Origin & History

何 (classical interrogative: what; when; why) + 时 (time; moment; period)

Cultural Context

Era: Classical to modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal