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ChineseGrammarWiki


			
				
					
						
						
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  <h1></h1>

  <p>When talking about when something happens, "<span class="hanzi">以后</span>" (<span class="pinyin">yǐhòu</span>) and "<span class="hanzi">的时候</span>" (<span class="pinyin">de shíhou</span>) are often used. They can both be translated as "<b>when</b>," 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>Contents</h2>

  <ol>
    <li>Structure<br/></li>

    <li>Examples<br/></li>

    <li>See also<br/></li>

    <li>Sources and further reading<br/></li>

    <ol>
      <li>Books<br/></li>
    </ol>
  </ol>

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

  <p>"<span class="hanzi">以后</span>" and "<span class="hanzi">的时候</span>" both appear in the same place in the sentence. That is, <b>after the verb</b>.</p>

  <div>
    <div class="deux">
      Subj. + Verb + <span class="hanzist">以后／的时候，</span> Comment
    </div>
  </div>

  <p>The difference comes in what they actually mean.</p>

  <h2 id="以后"><span class="hanzist">以后</span><br/></h2>

  <p><a href="After_a_specific_time" title="wikilink">"以后" technically means after</a>, so it is used after 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="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">下 飞机 以后 给 我 打电话。</span> <span>Give me a call after you get off the plane.</span></li>

      <li><span><span class="hanzi">有了孩子 以后 他 更 没 时间 出来 玩了。</span>After having a child, he has even less time to come out and have fun.</span></li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">下班 以后 我们 一起 去 吃饭。</span> <span>After work, we're going to go eat together.</span></li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">来中国以后 我 才 发现 中国菜 那么 好吃。</span> <span>Only when I got to China did I realize how tasty Chinese food is.</span></li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">毕业 以后 我 打算 去 上海 工作。</span> <span>I plan to find a job in Shanghai after I graduate.</span></li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">结婚 以后 你 还 会 工作吗？</span> <span>Are you still working after you get married?</span></li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h2 id="的时候"><span class="hanzist">的时候</span><br/></h2>

  <p>"<span class="hanzi">的时候</span>" means "when" in the sense of <a href="At_the_time_when" title="wikilink">during an action</a>. For example, "<b>when you play ball</b>" can be seen as "<b>when you are playing ball.</b>" It is this sort of difference that can make "<span class="hanzi">以后</span>" and "<span class="hanzi">的时候</span>" slightly confusing at times.</p>

  <h2 id="examples-1">Examples</h2>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">吃饭 的时候 看 电视 容易 长胖。</span> <span>Watching TV while you eat can make you fat easily.</span></li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">公司 规定 工作的时候不能 用 QQ 聊天。</span> <span>Company rules say that you can't chat on QQ when you're at work.</span></li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">无聊 的时候 可以 做 些 什么？</span> <span>What can you do when you're bored?</span></li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">打 篮球 的时候 会 出 很多 汗。</span> <span>You sweat a lot when you play basketball.</span></li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">看电影的时候 你 喜欢 吃 东西 吗？</span> <span>Do you like to eat while you watch a movie?</span></li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <p>"<span class="hanzi">的时候</span>" is also similar to using <a href="Simultaneous_tasks_with_&quot;yibian&quot;" title="wikilink">the 一边 structure</a>. However, "<span class="hanzi">一边</span>" uses two conscious actions that you do, whereas "<span class="hanzi">的时候</span>" 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 both "<span class="hanzi">以后</span>" and "<span class="hanzi">的时候</span>" 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, "<b>When you see her</b>." This means "<b>As soon as you see her</b>" 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="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">下班 的时候 我 给 你 打 电话。</span> <span>When you get off work, call me.</span></li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">下班 以后 我 给 你 打 电话。</span> <span>When you get off work, call me.</span></li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">雨 停 了 的时候，我们 就 去 公园 玩。</span> <span>When it stops raining, we'll go play in the park.</span></li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">雨 停 了 以后，我们 就 去 公园 玩。</span> <span>When it stops raining, we'll go play in the park.</span></li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">商店 关门 的 时候，你 再 来 找 我。</span> <span>Come to find me when the shop is closed.</span></li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">商店 关门 了 以后，你 再 来 找 我。</span> <span>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>Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (pp. 293-4)</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>
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