B1 Intermediate Aspects & Time

How to Say “When” with 时 (shí)

时 (shí) means “when” and is the shorter, more formal twin of 的时候. You put it after a time or event, exactly where 的时候 would go (考试时 = 考试的时候, “when taking the exam”), but it drops both the 的 and the 候. You’ll meet 时 in notices, instructions, set phrases and writing; everyday speech uses 的时候.

Why this trips learners up

时 (shí) is a trimmer, more formal way to say “when.” It does exactly the same job as 的时候 and sits in the same place, after a time or event: [Time / Event] + 时. 考试时请保持安静 (“please stay quiet when sitting the exam”), 入境时需要出示护照 (“you must present your passport on entry”). The catch is the form: 时 strips off both the 的 and the 候 of 的时候, leaving just 时. So 考试时 = 考试的时候, same meaning, fewer syllables.

The one thing you must not do is keep the 的. It is bare 时, never 的时: write 考试时 or the full 考试的时候, but not 考试的时. Like 的时候, the 时 phrase is a time word, so it can sit at the very front or just after the subject: 他年轻时去过很多国家 (“when he was young, he travelled to many countries”).

Where 时 differs from 的时候 is register. 时 has a formal, written ring to it. You’ll see it on signs and notices (紧急情况发生时，请走最近的出口, “in an emergency, use the nearest exit”), in instructions and contracts (签合同时一定要看清楚条款), in set phrases, and in literary writing and poetry. In ordinary conversation, especially after a short phrase like 你来, the natural choice stays 的时候: 你来的时候给我打个电话, not 你来时.

One last thing it shares with 的时候: 时 marks a simultaneous moment, “at the time of,” not “after.” 下课时 is “during / as class ends,” so for “after class, we went to eat” you need 以后 (下课以后), not 时. If two things line up in time, use 时 (formal) or 的时候 (everyday); if one follows the other, that’s 以后 / 之后.

The structure

Time 时 shí Other

Colour key

Each colour marks one grammatical role — and the same colour means the same role on every page in the Lab.

Pattern Subject Verb Object Complement Time Negation Adverb Function word Adjective Other

Examples in context

Real-world sentences, easiest first. Toggle pinyin or the translation, tap any word to see its role, or play the audio.

Tap a word to see its grammatical role.

shàngkè 上课 Verb shí 时 Pattern qǐng 请 Verb bǎochí 保持 Verb ānjìng 安静 Object

Please stay quiet during class (a formal notice).

rùjìng 入境 Verb shí 时 Pattern xūyào 需要 Verb chūshì 出示 Verb hùzhào 护照 Object

You need to present your passport on entry (a written instruction).

qiān 签 Verb hétong 合同 Object shí 时 Pattern yídìng 一定 Adverb yào 要 Function word kàn 看 Verb qīngchu 清楚 Complement tiáokuǎn 条款 Object

When you sign the contract, be sure to read the terms carefully.

jǐnjí qíngkuàng 紧急情况 Subject fāshēng 发生 Verb shí 时 Pattern qǐng 请 Verb zǒu 走 Verb zuìjìn de 最近的 Adjective chūkǒu 出口 Object

In an emergency, please use the nearest exit (signage register).

tā 他 Subject niánqīng 年轻 Adjective shí 时 Pattern qù 去 Verb guo 过 Function word hěn duō 很多 Adjective guójiā 国家 Object

When he was young, he travelled to many countries (年轻时, a stative + 时).

fùkuǎn 付款 Verb shí 时 Pattern kěyǐ 可以 Function word xuǎnzé 选择 Verb fēnqī 分期 Object

When paying, you can choose to pay in instalments.

líkāi 离开 Verb bàngōngshì 办公室 Object shí 时 Pattern jìde 记得 Verb suǒ 锁 Verb mén 门 Object

Remember to lock the door when you leave the office.

wǒmen 我们 Subject dì-yī cì 第一次 Time jiànmiàn 见面 Verb shí 时 Pattern shéi 谁 Subject yě 也 Adverb méi 没 Negation xiǎngdào 想到 Verb huì 会 Function word chéngwéi 成为 Verb péngyou 朋友 Object

When we first met, neither of us imagined we’d become friends.

Common mistakes

Avoid: 上课的时请保持安静。 shàngkè de shí qǐng bǎochí ānjìng.

Say this: 上课时请保持安静。 shàngkè shí qǐng bǎochí ānjìng.

Why it happens: 时 drops both the 的 and the 候 of 的时候, so it is bare 时, never 的时. Write 上课时 or the full 上课的时候, but never 上课的时.

Avoid: 你来时给我打个电话吧。 nǐ lái shí gěi wǒ dǎ gè diànhuà ba.

Say this: 你来的时候给我打个电话吧。 nǐ lái de shíhou gěi wǒ dǎ gè diànhuà ba.

Why it happens: 时 has a formal, written feel. In everyday speech, especially after a short phrase like 你来, 的时候 is the natural choice: 你来的时候给我打个电话. Keep 时 for notices, set phrases and a more formal tone.

Avoid: 下课时，我们去吃饭了。 xiàkè shí, wǒmen qù chīfàn le.

Say this: 下课以后，我们去吃饭了。 xiàkè yǐhòu, wǒmen qù chīfàn le.

Why it happens: Like 的时候, 时 frames a moment as it happens (“when”), not what comes after it. 下课时 is “as class ends”; for “after class,” use 以后: 下课以后我们去吃饭了.

Compare & contrast

时 (formal / written “when”; drops 的)	的时候 (everyday, spoken “when”)	The difference
年轻时niánqīng shí	年轻的时候niánqīng de shíhou	年轻时 and 年轻的时候 both mean “when (one was) young,” but 年轻时 is the trimmer, more formal version. You’ll meet 时 in writing and set phrases; 的时候 is the everyday spoken default.
签合同时qiān hétong shí	签合同的时候qiān hétong de shíhou	签合同时 (“when signing the contract”) suits a notice or a contract; 签合同的时候 is how you’d say the same thing in ordinary conversation. Same structure, just the 的 and 候 dropped.

Rule of thumb时 is 的时候 with the 的 and 候 stripped off: same “when,” a more formal, written feel. Use 时 for notices, instructions, set phrases and literary writing; use 的时候 for everyday speech. Never write 的时, and like 的时候, 时 means “at the moment of,” not “after.”

Try it yourself

Say “You need to present your passport on entry.” Put 时 right after the event.

Related patterns

Quick reference card

How to Say “When” with 时 (shí) grammar.merrymandarin.com

A pocket summary — print it and keep it by your desk.

Structure

Time + 时 + Other

Example

上课时请保持安静

Please stay quiet during class (a formal notice).

Watch out

✗ 上课的时请保持安静。 → ✓ 上课时请保持安静。