时候 (shíhou) — time, moment, occasion

时候 (shíhou)

Refers to a specific point in time, a moment, or an occasion. It answers the question "when?" and is used in constructions like 的时候 (when..., at the time of...). Key contrast: 时候 is a point or occasion, while 时间 (shíjiān) refers to duration or time as an abstract concept.

Meanings

1. [noun] A point in time, a moment, an occasion.

Example Sentences

我小的时候喜欢唱歌。 Wǒ xiǎo de shíhou xǐhuan chànggē. When I was young, I liked to sing.

你什么时候回来？ Nǐ shénme shíhou huílái? When are you coming back?

吃饭的时候不要看手机。 Chīfàn de shíhou bùyào kàn shǒujī. Don't look at your phone while eating.

那个时候他还是学生。 Nàge shíhou tā háishi xuésheng. At that time he was still a student.

Collocations

Memory Hook

时 is time and 候 is to wait/season: 时候 captures a moment you are waiting for or living through, not a stretch of time.