A1 pronoun 中性 2分钟阅读

什么时候

When, at what time

shénme shíhòu /ʂən.mə ɕɤ t.hɤ/

Overview

The Chinese interrogative pronoun '什么时候' (shén me shí hou) is used to inquire about time. It directly translates to 'when' or 'at what time' in English. It can be used to ask about a specific point in time, a duration, or an event's occurrence. Unlike English, where 'when' can sometimes function as a conjunction, '什么时候' is primarily used as an interrogative word within a sentence. It typically appears before the verb or at the beginning of a question. It's crucial to remember that in Chinese, the word order in questions often remains similar to declarative sentences, with '什么时候' simply replacing the time element being asked about.

Here are some common usage patterns and nuances:

**Asking about a specific time or date:**

  • 你什么时候去北京? (Nǐ shénme shíhou qù Běijīng?) - When are you going to Beijing?
  • 会议什么时候开始? (Huìyì shénme shíhou kāishǐ?) - When does the meeting start?

**Asking about a duration (often implied):**

  • 你什么时候回来? (Nǐ shénme shíhou huílái?) - When will you be back? (This implicitly asks about the time of return, which is a specific point after a duration of absence).
  1. 1Used with '从...到...' (cóng...dào..., from...to...) to ask about a time period:
  • 你什么时候从学校毕业的? (Nǐ shénme shíhou cóng xuéxiào bìyè de?) - When did you graduate from school?
  1. 1Placement in a sentence: '什么时候' typically comes before the verb or before the predicate in a sentence, similar to how other interrogative pronouns like '什么' (shénme, what) or '谁' (shuí, who) are placed.
  • 他什么时候来? (Tā shénme shíhou lái?) - When is he coming?
  1. 1Informal usage and variations: In very informal contexts, sometimes just '什么时' (shénme shí) might be heard, but '什么时候' is the standard and most common form.

Understanding '什么时候' is fundamental for asking questions related to time in Mandarin Chinese, making it an essential vocabulary item for beginners.

例句

1

你什么时候有空?

Asking about availability

When will you be free?

2

我们什么时候出发?

Inquiring about departure time

When are we leaving?

3

你什么时候来的?

Asking about arrival time in the past

When did you arrive?

4

你什么时候才能完成这项工作?

Inquiring about a deadline or completion time

When will you be able to finish this work?

5

我不知道他什么时候会回来。

Expressing uncertainty about timing

I don't know when he will be back.

常见搭配

你什么时候来? (When are you coming?)
我们什么时候见面? (When shall we meet?)
我不知道他什么时候回来。(I don't know when he will be back.)
你什么时候有空? (When are you free?)

容易混淆的词

什么时候 对比 什么
什么时候 (shén me shí hou) specifically asks about time, while 什么 (shén me) is a general interrogative pronoun meaning 'what'.

语法模式

Subject + 什么时候 + Verb + Object? 什么时候 + Clause 什么时候 都 + Adjective/Verb

如何使用

使用说明

The structure for using '什么时候' is typically placed before the verb or verb phrase in a sentence, similar to other interrogative pronouns in Chinese. For example, to ask 'When are you going?', you would say '你什么时候去?' (Nǐ shénme shíhou qù?). It can also be used at the beginning of a sentence, though this is less common than placing it before the verb. When answering a question with '什么时候', a specific time, date, or period is usually provided. For instance, if asked '你什么时候来?' (Nǐ shénme shíhou lái? - When are you coming?), a possible answer could be '我明天来。' (Wǒ míngtiān lái. - I'm coming tomorrow.) It's important to note that '什么时候' is generally used for specific or relatively specific time inquiries, as opposed to more general temporal questions that might use other phrases like '在什么时间' (zài shénme shíjiān), which literally means 'at what time' but implies a more formal or precise context.


常见错误

1. Using '什么时候' interchangeably with '几点' (jǐ diǎn) for specific times. '几点' is used for asking 'what time' a clock shows (e.g., '现在几点?' - What time is it now?), while '什么时候' is broader and can refer to a period, a date, or a general time. For example, you would say '你什么时候来?' (When are you coming?) not '你几点来?' unless you are asking for a precise hour. 2. Not understanding the flexibility of '什么时候'. It can be used for past, present, or future events. For example, '你什么时候到的?' (When did you arrive?), '你什么时候走?' (When are you leaving?). 3. Overusing it in situations where a simpler time phrase would suffice. For example, instead of '你什么时候吃晚饭?' (When are you eating dinner?), if you just want to know if it's 'tonight', you might say '你今晚吃晚饭吗?' (Are you eating dinner tonight?). 4. Confusing it with '多久' (duō jiǔ), which means 'how long'. '什么时候' asks for a point in time, while '多久' asks for a duration. For example, '你什么时候开始学中文?' (When did you start learning Chinese?) vs. '你学中文多久了?' (How long have you been learning Chinese?).

小贴士

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Usage Tips

'什么时候' (shénme shíhou) is an interrogative pronoun used to ask 'when' or 'at what time'. It can be used in various sentence structures and often appears at the beginning of a question or after the subject. Examples: - 你什么时候回家? (Nǐ shénme shíhou huí jiā?) - When are you coming home? - 电影什么时候开始? (Diànyǐng shénme shíhou kāishǐ?) - When does the movie start? - 你打算什么时候去中国? (Nǐ dǎsuàn shénme shíhou qù Zhōngguó?) - When do you plan to go to China?
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Common Mistakes & Nuances

1. **Placement:** While '什么时候' often comes after the subject, it can also come at the beginning for emphasis, similar to English. - 什么时候我们见面? (Shénme shíhou wǒmen jiànmiàn?) - When will we meet? (Less common, but acceptable) 2. **No '吗' (ma):** When using an interrogative pronoun like '什么时候', you generally do not add '吗' (ma) at the end of the sentence, as the question is already formed by the pronoun itself. - Incorrect: 你什么时候回家吗? (Nǐ shénme shíhou huí jiā ma?) - Correct: 你什么时候回家? (Nǐ shénme shíhou huí jiā?) 3. **Answering '什么时候':** When answering a '什么时候' question, you provide a specific time, date, or period. The answer often replaces '什么时候' in the sentence structure. - Q: 你什么时候去? (Nǐ shénme shíhou qù?) - When are you going? - A: 我明天去。 (Wǒ míngtiān qù.) - I'm going tomorrow.
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Advanced Use & Related Phrases

1. **'是...的时候' (shì...de shíhou):** This structure is used to indicate 'when [something] happened' or 'at the time of [something]'. - 我是三岁的时候开始学钢琴的。 (Wǒ shì sān suì de shíhou kāishǐ xué gāngqín de.) - I started learning piano when I was three years old. 2. **'到时候' (dào shíhou):** This means 'when the time comes' or 'at that time'. - 我们到时候再看。 (Wǒmen dào shíhou zài kàn.) - We'll see when the time comes. 3. **'在什么时候' (zài shénme shíhou):** This is another way to ask 'at what time/when', with '在' emphasizing the specific point in time. It's often interchangeable with '什么时候' but can sometimes feel a bit more formal or precise. - 你在什么时候能完成? (Nǐ zài shénme shíhou néng wánchéng?) - At what time can you finish?

词源

The word '什么时候' is composed of '什么' (shénme) meaning 'what' and '时候' (shíhou) meaning 'time' or 'moment'. The combination literally translates to 'what time', thus forming the interrogative pronoun 'when'. Both components have a long history in the Chinese language. '什么' can be traced back to Old Chinese, evolving from various interrogative particles. '时候' also has ancient roots, referring to a specific point in time or a period. The phrase '什么时候' as a common way to ask 'when' has been in use for centuries, solidifying its place in modern Mandarin Chinese.

文化背景

The phrase '什么时候' (shénme shíhou) is a versatile and commonly used interrogative in Mandarin Chinese, directly translating to 'when' or 'at what time'. Its usage is straightforward and generally mirrors the way 'when' is used in English. Culturally, there isn't a specific nuance that differentiates its usage significantly from other temporal interrogatives in other languages. It's often used in everyday conversations, scheduling, and making plans. For instance, asking '你什么时候有空?' (Nǐ shénme shíhou yǒu kòng?) means 'When are you free?' This phrase is crucial for coordinating activities and understanding timelines in a Chinese-speaking context. There are no particular taboos or sensitivities associated with its use, making it a safe and essential phrase for learners.

记忆技巧

The character '什' (shén) looks a bit like a person standing next to a cross, perhaps like someone asking 'what' or 'when'. '么' (me) is a common interrogative particle. The character '时' (shí) means 'time' and contains the radical for sun (日). '候' (hòu) can mean 'wait' or 'time/moment', and it has the radical for person (亻) on the left, perhaps waiting for the right time.

常见问题

4 个问题
'什么时候' (shén me shí hou) is a common interrogative phrase in Mandarin Chinese that directly translates to 'when' or 'at what time'. It is used to ask about the time an event occurred or will occur, making it essential for discussing schedules, past events, or future plans. It can refer to a specific point in time or a duration.
'什么时候' is usually placed before the verb or at the beginning of a question. For example, '你什么时候去?' (Nǐ shénme shíhou qù?) means 'When are you going?'. Another example is '会议什么时候开始?' (Huìyì shénme shíhou kāishǐ?), which translates to 'When does the meeting start?'. It's versatile and can be used in a variety of contexts to inquire about timing.
While primarily used for direct questions, '什么时候' can sometimes appear in rhetorical questions or exclamations to express impatience, surprise, or a sense of longing. For instance, '我什么时候才能成功?' (Wǒ shénme shíhou cái néng chénggōng?) could be a rhetorical question meaning 'When will I ever succeed?'. However, this usage is less common than its direct interrogative function.
Yes, several common phrases use '什么时候'. For example, '从什么时候开始?' (Cóng shénme shíhou kāishǐ?) means 'Since when?' or 'From what time did it start?'. '到什么时候?' (Dào shénme shíhou?) means 'Until when?' or 'To what time?'. These variations help to specify the timeframe being inquired about, making it a very flexible and integral part of Chinese communication.

自我测试

fill blank

你___去上海? (When are you going to Shanghai?)

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
fill blank

我们___见面? (When shall we meet?)

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
fill blank

你___回家? (When are you coming home?)

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:

得分: /3

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