Introduction
什么时候 (shénme shíhou) means "when". It is a time expression, and in Chinese every time expression goes before the verb — never at the end, where English likes to put it. 你什么时候来？(Nǐ shénme shíhou lái?) — When are you coming?
Overview
Structure: Subj. + 什么时候 (shénme shíhou) + Verb ?
| Pattern | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Subj + 什么时候 + V | 你什么时候来？(Nǐ shénme shíhou lái?) | When are you coming? |
| Subj + 什么时候 + V + O | 你什么时候吃饭？(Nǐ shénme shíhou chī fàn?) | When do you eat? |
| 什么时候 + 的（past） | 你什么时候来的？(Nǐ shénme shíhou lái de?) | When did you come? |
| 几点 + V（clock time） | 你几点起床？(Nǐ jǐ diǎn qǐchuáng?) | What time do you get up? |
| 从什么时候 | 从什么时候开始？(Cóng shénme shíhou kāishǐ?) | Starting when? |
什么时候 (shénme shíhou) or 几点 (jǐ diǎn)?
- 什么时候 (shénme shíhou) asks for any point in time — a day, a month, a year, "after lunch".
- 几点 (jǐ diǎn) asks only for a clock time: 你几点走？(Nǐ jǐ diǎn zǒu?) — What time are you leaving?
- Both sit before the verb. Neither ever goes at the end of the sentence.
- The answer replaces the question word in the same slot: 我明天来。(Wǒ míngtiān lái.) — I'm coming tomorrow.
Examples
你什么时候来？
Nǐ shénme shíhou lái?
When are you coming?
你什么时候去中国？
Nǐ shénme shíhou qù Zhōngguó?
When are you going to China?
我们什么时候见面？
Wǒmen shénme shíhou jiànmiàn?
When shall we meet?
你什么时候开始学中文的？
Nǐ shénme shíhou kāishǐ xué Zhōngwén de?
When did you start learning Chinese?
考试什么时候开始？
Kǎoshì shénme shíhou kāishǐ?
When does the exam start?
你什么时候有时间？
Nǐ shénme shíhou yǒu shíjiān?
When are you free?
Usage Notes
- ❌ 你来什么时候？(Nǐ lái shénme shíhou?) — this is English word order. Time comes before the verb, always.
- 什么时候 (shénme shíhou) is already a question, so no 吗 (ma). ❌ 你什么时候来吗？(Nǐ shénme shíhou lái ma?)
- 时候 (shíhou) carries a neutral tone on the second syllable — shíhou, not shíhòu.
- The same 时候 (shíhou) builds the "when …" clause: 我小的时候 (wǒ xiǎo de shíhou) — when I was little. Question and clause use one word.
- For something already finished, add 的 (de) at the end: 你什么时候来的？(Nǐ shénme shíhou lái de?) — When did you get here?