时候

• 拼音: shí hou
• 汉字拆解: 时 = 日 (sun) + 寸 (inch, measure) | 候 = 亻(person) + 侯 (phonetic)

含义

Time; moment; when. Refers to a point in time or a period when something happens.

Most commonly used in the pattern ...的时候 meaning 'when...' or 'at the time of...'. It indicates a point or period in time rather than duration. Very frequently paired with question words in 什么时候 (when?).

例句

1. 你什么时候回家？
2. 吃饭的时候不要看手机。
3. 上课的时候不能说话。

用法指南

语境: time, everyday

语气: neutral

正确说法

• 你什么时候有空？(When are you free?)
• 睡觉的时候要关灯。(Turn off the light when you sleep.)

错误说法

• 我在三点时候去。(Unnatural — say 我三点的时候去 or simply 我三点去; 时候 needs 的 after a time phrase)

起源与历史

Compound of 时 (time, hour) and 候 (to wait, a period), together meaning a point or period of time.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal