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ChineseGrammarWiki


			
				
					
						
						
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<p>When talking about when something happens, "以后" (yǐhòu) and
"的时候" (de shíhou) are often used. They can both be translated as
"when," but their meanings are different, so they can't be used in
situations you might expect them to be used in. Take a look at this
article if you want to figure it out!</p>
<h2 id="structure">Structure</h2>
<p>"以后" and "的时候" both appear in the same place in the sentence.
That is, after the verb.</p>
<div class="jiegou">
<p>Subj. + Verb + 以后／的时候， Comment</p>
</div>
<p>The difference comes in what they actually mean.</p>
<h2 id="以后">以后</h2>
<p><a href="After_a_specific_time" title="wikilink">"以后"
technically means after</a>, so it is used <em>after</em> the
action is completed. This can be seen as a way of saying "When you
are done (verb)ing."</p>
<h3 id="examples">Examples</h3>
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li>下 飞机 <em>以后</em> 给 我 打电话。 <span class="trans">Give me a call
after you get off the plane.</span></li>
<li>有了孩子 <em>以后</em> 他 更 没 时间 出来 玩了。<span class="trans">After
having a child, he has even less time to come out and have
fun.</span></li>
<li>下班 <em>以后</em> 我们 一起 去 吃饭。<span class="trans">After work, we're
going to go eat together.</span></li>
<li>来中国<em>以后</em> 我 才 发现 中国菜 那么 好吃。 <span class="trans">Only when
I got to China did I realize how tasty Chinese food is.</span></li>
<li>毕业 <em>以后</em> 我 打算 去 上海 工作。<span class="trans">I plan to find
a job in Shanghai after I graduate.</span></li>
<li>结婚 <em>以后</em> 你 还 会 工作吗？<span class="trans">Are you still
working after you get married?</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 id="的时候">的时候</h2>
<p>"的时候" means "when" in the sense of <a href="At_the_time_when"
title="wikilink">during an action</a>. For example, "when you play
ball" can be seen as "when you are playing ball." It is this sort
of difference that can make "以后" and "的时候" slightly confusing at
times.</p>
<h2 id="examples-1">Examples</h2>
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li>吃饭 <em>的时候</em> 看 电视 容易 长胖。<span class="trans">Watching TV
while you eat can make you fat easily.</span></li>
<li>公司 规定 工作<em>的时候</em>不能 用 QQ 聊天。<span class="trans">Company
rules say that you can't chat on QQ when you're at
work.</span></li>
<li>无聊 <em>的时候</em> 可以 做 些 什么？<span class="trans">What can you do
when you're bored?</span></li>
<li>打 篮球 <em>的时候</em> 会 出 很多 汗。<span class="trans">You sweat a lot
when you play basketball.</span></li>
<li>看电影<em>的时候</em> 你 喜欢 吃 东西 吗？<span class="trans">Do you like to
eat while you watch a movie?</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>"的时候" is also similar to using <a href=
"Simultaneous_tasks_with_&quot;yibian&quot;" title="wikilink">the
一边 structure</a>. However, "一边" uses two conscious actions that you
do, whereas "的时候" can use sub-conscious or unexpected actions.</p>
<h2 id="similar-usage">Similar Usage</h2>
<p>Now we get to a really confusing part! There are instances where
<em>both</em> "以后" and "的时候" could work and still mean the same
thing. These are times when there isn't really a duration, it just
happens in an instant. For example, "When you see her." This means
"As soon as you see her" so there is only one point where you first
see a person. In this case, you can use either one.</p>
<h2 id="examples-2">Examples</h2>
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li>下班 <em>的时候</em> 我 给 你 打 电话。<span class="trans">When you get off
work, call me.</span></li>
<li>下班 <em>以后</em> 我 给 你 打 电话。<span class="trans">When you get off
work, call me.</span></li>
<li>雨 停 了 <em>的时候</em>，我们 就 去 公园 玩。<span class="trans">When it
stops raining, we'll go play in the park.</span></li>
<li>雨 停 了 <em>以后</em>，我们 就 去 公园 玩。<span class="trans">When it stops
raining, we'll go play in the park.</span></li>
<li>商店 关门 的 <em>时候</em>，你 再 来 找 我。<span class="trans">Come to find
me when the shop is closed.</span></li>
<li>商店 关门 了 <em>以后</em>，你 再 来 找 我。 <span class="trans">Come to find
me when the shop is closed.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="After_a_specific_time" title="wikilink">After a
specific time</a></li>
<li><a href="At_the_time_when" title="wikilink">At the time
when</a></li>
<li><a href="Simultaneous_tasks_with_&quot;yibian&quot;" title=
"wikilink">Simultaneous tasks with "yibian"</a></li>
<li><a href="Comparing_&quot;yihou&quot;_and_&quot;zhihou&quot;"
title="wikilink">Comparing "yihou" and "zhihou"</a></li>
</ul>
<h2 id="sources-and-further-reading">Sources and Further
Reading</h2>
<h3 id="books">Books</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_2_(3rd_ed)" title=
"wikilink">Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)</a> (pp.
293-4) <a href=
"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=allset-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=0887276709">
→buy</a></li>
</ul>
<h3 id="videos">Videos</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v469o3lXaYk">Yoyo
Chinese Grammar "When you get home"</a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="Category:grammar_comparison" title=
"wikilink">Category:grammar comparison</a></p>
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