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<title>Comparing "yihou" and "de shihou"</title>
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<h1>Comparing "yihou" and "de shihou"</h1>

<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>Contents</h2>

  
<div class="contents"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">1 Structure </span></li><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">2 以后 </span></li><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">2.1 Examples </span></li></ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">3 的时候 </span></li><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">3.1 Examples </span></li></ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">4 Similar Usage </span></li><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">4.1 Examples </span></li></ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">5 See also </span></li><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">6 Sources and further reading </span></li><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">6.1 Books </span></li><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">6.2 Videos</span></li></ul></ul></div>

<h3>Structure</h3>

<p>以后 and 的时候 both appear in the same place in the sentence. That is, after the verb.
</p>
<div class="deux">Subj. + Verb + 以后／的时候，⋯⋯</div>

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

<h3>以后</h3>

<p>以后 technically means after, 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>Examples</h3>

<div class="exemple"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">下 飞机 以后 给 我 打电话 。
Xià fēijī yǐhòu gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà
Give me a call after you get off the plane. </span></li><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">来 中国 以后 我 才 发现 中国 菜 那么 好吃 。
Lái Zhōngguó yǐhòu wǒ cái fāxiàn Zhōngguó cài nàme hào chī.
Only when I got to China did I realize how tasty Chinese food is. </span></li><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">毕业 以后 我 打算 去 上海 工作 。
Bìyè yǐhòu wǒ dǎsuàn qù Shànghǎi gōngzuò.
I plan to find a job in Shanghai after I graduate. </span></li><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">结婚 以后 你 想 继续 工作 吗 ？
Jiéhūn yǐhòu nǐ xiǎng jìxù gōngzuò ma?
Do you want to keep working after you get married?</span><br /></li></ul></div>

<h3>的时候</h3>

<p>的时候 means "when" in the sense of during an action. 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>

<h3>Examples</h3>

<div class="exemple"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">吃饭 的时候 看 电视 容易 长 胖 。
Chīfàn de shíhòu kàn diànshì róngyì zhǎng pàng.
Watching TV while you eat can make you fat easily. </span></li><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">工作 的时候 不要 上网 聊天 。
Gōngzuò de shíhòu bùyào shàngwǎng liáotiān.
Don't chat online when you're at work. </span></li><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">无聊 的时候 可以 做 些 什么 ？
Wúliáo de shíhòu kěyǐ zuò xiē shénme?
What can you do when you're bored?</span><br /></li></ul></div>

<p>的时候 is also similar to using the 一边 structure. However, 一边 uses two conscious actions that you do, whereas "的时候" can use sub-conscious or unexpected actions.</p>

<h3>Similar Usage</h3>

<p>Now we get to a really confusing part! There are instances where both 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.
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<h3>Examples</h3>

<div class="exemple"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">雨 停 了 的时候，我们 就 去 公园 玩。
Yǔ tíng le de shíhòu , wǒmen jiù qù gōngyuán wán.
When it stops raining, we'll go play in the park. </span></li><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">雨 停 了 以后，我们 就 去 公园 玩。
Yǔ tíngle yǐhòu , wǒmen jiù qù gōngyuán wán.
When it stops raining, we'll go play in the park. </span></li><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">商店 关门 的 时候，你 再 来 找 我。
Shāngdiàn guānmén de shíhòu , nǐ zàilái zhǎo wǒ.
Come to find me when the shop is closed. </span></li><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">商店 关门 了 以后，你 再 来 找 我。
Shāngdiàn guānmén le yǐhòu , nǐ zàilái zhǎo wǒ.
Come to find me when the shop is closed.</span><br /></li></ul></div>

<h3>See also</h3>

<div class="See-also"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">After a specific time </span></li><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">At the time when </span></li><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">Simultaneous tasks with "yibian" </span></li><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">Comparing "yihou" and "zhihou"</span><br /></li></ul></div>

<h3>Sources and further reading
</h3>
<h4>Books</h4>

<div class="See-also"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (pp. 293-4) →buy</span><br /></li></ul></div>
<h4>Videos</h4>

<div class="See-also"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">Yoyo Chinese Grammar "When you get home"</span><br /></li></ul></div>
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