How to Say ‘When can you finish?’ in Simplified Chinese
什么时候能做完？
shén me shí hòu néng zuò wán
[shénme shíhou nung zuò wán]
💬 Usage Tip: In Chinese, the question word stays where the answer would go, so 什么时候 sits at the front just like a time would. You answer by putting a time in its place: 下周五能做完 "I can finish next Friday".
Phrase Breakdown
什么时候
shén me shí hòu
when
什么时候 (shénme shíhou) means 'when'. 么 and 候 are light and unstressed.
你什么时候来？
When are you coming?
Words in this phrase
什么
shén me
[shénme]
what
Question word asking about things.
你想吃什么？
What do you want to eat?
时候
shí hòu
[shíhou]
time; moment (when)
Used after a phrase to mean 'when ...'.
吃饭的时候别看手机。
Don't look at your phone while eating.
能做完？
néng zuò wán
can it be finished?
能 (néng) means 'can'. 做完 (zuò wán) means 'finish'.
今天能做完吗？
Can it be finished today?
Words in this phrase
能
néng
[nung]
can; be able to
Expresses ability or possibility to do something.
能帮到你，我也很开心。
If I can help you, I’m also very happy.
做完
zuò wán
[zuò wán]
finish doing
做 plus 完, to complete an action.
做完作业再玩。
Play after finishing homework.
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