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  <h1>Expressing "when" with "<span class="pinyinst">de shíhou</span>" "<span class="hanzist">的时候</span>"</h1>

  <p>In English, if we are reflecting on a past time, we often say, "<b>when I was a child</b>" or "<b>when I was in school.</b>" In Chinese, this can also be expressed by using <span class="hanzi">的时候</span> (<span class="pinyin">de shíhou</span>).</p>

  <h2 id="structure">Structure</h2>

  <p>To talk about events that happened at or during a particular time, <span class="hanzi">的时候</span> (<span class="pinyin">de shíhou</span>) is often used. This is simply attached to the word or phrase indicating the time:</p>

  <div class="deux">
    <p>(Subj.) + Verb / Adj. + <span class="hanzist">的 时候, ....</span></p>
  </div>

  <p>As time words can appear <a href="Time_words_and_word_order" title="wikilink">before or after the subject</a>, you can also place the "Time + <span class="hanzi">的时候</span> (<span class="pinyin">de shíhou</span>)" after the subject:</p>

  <div class="deux">
    <p>Time Word + <span class="hanzist">的 时候, ....</span></p>
  </div>

  <h2 id="examples">Examples</h2>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">你 <span class="fondjaune">不 在</span> <span class="fondvert">的时候</span>，我 会 想 你。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <span class="fondjaune">bù zài</span> <span class="fondvert">de shíhou</span>, wǒ huì xiǎng nǐ.</span> <br/>When you are not here, I'll miss you.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我 <span class="fondjaune">上 大学</span> <span class="fondvert">的时候</span> 有 很 多 朋友。</span> <br/><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <span class="fondjaune">shàng dàxué</span> <span class="fondvert">de shíhou</span>, yǒu hěn duō péngyou.</span><br/> When I was in college, I had a lot of friends.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi"><span class="fondjaune">上课</span> <span class="fondvert">的时候</span> 不要 吃 东西。</span><br/><span class="pinyin"><span class="fondjaune">Shàngkè</span> <span class="fondvert">de shíhou</span> bùyào chī dōngxi.</span> <br/>Don't eat when you are in class.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">老板 <span class="fondjaune">工作</span> <span class="fondvert">的时候</span> 喜欢 喝 咖啡。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn <span class="fondjaune">gōngzuò</span> <span class="fondvert">de shíhou</span> xǐhuan hē kāfēi.</span><br/> When the boss works, he likes to drink coffee.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我 <span class="fondjaune">生气</span> <span class="fondvert">的时候</span>，请 你 不要 笑。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <span class="fondjaune">shēngqì</span> <span class="fondvert">de shíhou</span>, qǐng nǐ bùyào xiào.</span><br/> Please don't laugh when I'm angry.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">妈妈 <span class="fondjaune">不 在 家</span> <span class="fondvert">的时候</span>，我 自己 做饭。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Māma <span class="fondjaune">bù zài jiā</span> <span class="fondvert">de shíhou</span>, wǒ zìjǐ zuòfàn.</span><br/> When mom is not home, I cook for myself.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi"><span class="fondjaune">开会</span> <span class="fondvert">的时候</span> 不要 聊天。</span><br/><span class="pinyin"><span class="fondjaune">Kāihuì</span> <span class="fondvert">de shíhou</span> bùyào liáotiān.</span> <br/>Don't chat when you are in a meeting.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi"><span class="fondjaune">吃 东西</span> <span class="fondvert">的时候</span> 不要 说话。</span><br/><span class="pinyin"><span class="fondjaune">Chī dōngxi</span> <span class="fondvert">de shíhou</span> bùyào shuōhuà.</span><br/> Don't talk when eating.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">你 <span class="fondjaune">开车</span> <span class="fondvert">的时候</span> 会 打 电话 吗？</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <span class="fondjaune">kāichē</span> <span class="fondvert">de shíhou</span> huì dǎ diànhuà ma?</span> <br/>Do you talk on the phone when you're driving?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi"><span class="fondjaune">走路</span> <span class="fondvert">的时候</span> 不要 玩手机。</span> <br/><span class="pinyin"><span class="fondjaune">Zǒulù</span> <span class="fondvert">de shíhou</span> bùyào wán shǒujī.</span> <br/>Don't play with your phone while walking.</li>
    </ul>
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  <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>

  <ul>
    <li><a href="Before_a_specific_time" title="wikilink">Before a specific time</a></li>

    <li><a href="In_the_future_in_general" title="wikilink">In the future in general</a></li>

    <li><a href="Comparing_&quot;yihou&quot;_and_&quot;de_shihou&quot;" title="wikilink">Comparing "yihou" and "de shihou"</a></li>
  </ul>

  <h2 id="sources-and-further-reading">Sources and further reading</h2>

  <h3 id="books">Books</h3>

  <ul>
    <li>Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 24-5)</li>

    <li>Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (pp. 293-4)</li>
  </ul>
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