How to Say ‘When can the plumber come?’ in Traditional Chinese
師傅什麼時候可以來？
shī fù shén me shí hòu kě yǐ lái
[shīfu shénme shíhòu kuh-yee lai]
💬 Usage Tip: The question word 什麼時候 "when" stays where the time would go in the answer, before the verb. It doesn't move to the front like "when" does in English.
Phrase Breakdown
師傅什麼時候
shī fù shén me shí hòu
when will the repairman
師傅 means 'repairman', and 什麼時候 means 'when'.
你什麼時候有空？
When are you free?
Words in this phrase
師傅
shī fù
[shīfu]
master worker; repairman
A respectful term for a skilled tradesperson.
師傅已經到了。
The repairman has already arrived.
什麼
shén me
[shénme]
what
Question word for 'what'.
你想買什麼？
What do you want to buy?
時候
shí hòu
[shíhòu]
time; moment
With 什麼 it asks 'when'.
你小時候住哪裡？
Where did you live when you were little?
可以來？
kě yǐ lái
be able to come?
可以 means 'can/be able to', and 來 means 'come'.
你明天可以來？
You can come tomorrow?
Words in this phrase
可以
kě yǐ
[kuh-yee]
can; may
Used to express ability, permission, or that something is possible.
你如果想加這位主管的聯絡方式，現在可以先自我介紹。
If you want to add this manager's contact information, you can introduce yourself first now.
來
lái
[lai]
to come
Often used to invite someone to come over, join, or take part in something.
有空可以來我們攤位看看，也歡迎你來聊聊。
If you have time, you can come check out our booth, and you’re also welcome to come chat.
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