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How to Say ‘When?’ in Simplified Chinese

什么时候?

shén me shí hòu

[shénme shíhou]

💬 Usage Tip: 什么时候 goes before the verb, not at the start or end like English "when". For example, 你什么时候来? "When are you coming?"

Phrase Breakdown

什么

shén me

[shénme]

when

Used to ask about the time or occasion an event occurs.

Example

你什么时候来?

When are you coming?

时候

shí hòu

[shíhou]

when

At what time or during what time an event occurs.

Example

吃饭的时候我们聊聊。

Let's talk when we eat.

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