语法 · HSK 1–2
时间 (shíjiān) vs 时候 (shíhou): "time" in Chinese
时间 is time as a measurable resource or duration ("have time", "how much time", "waste time"): 我今天没有时间. 时候 is a specific point or moment in time ("when …", "at what time"): 你什么时候来？吃饭的时候别看手机. Quick rule: if you mean "when / at the time of", use ……的时候; if you mean "free time / hours", use 时间.
句型Patterns
有 / 没有 + 时间Have / don't have free time: 你周末有时间吗？Clause / Verb + 的时候When … / while …: 我小的时候, 上课的时候.什么时候 + Verb？When (at what point in time): 电影什么时候开始？多长时间？How long (duration): 你学了多长时间中文？
例句Examples
- 你明天下午有时间吗？我们一起喝咖啡吧。nǐ míng tiān xià wǔ yǒu shí jiān ma? wǒ men yì qǐ hē kā fēi ba.Do you have time tomorrow afternoon? Let's get coffee.
- 开车的时候千万不要看手机。kāi chē de shí hou qiān wàn bú yào kàn shǒu jī.Never look at your phone when driving.
- 坐高铁从北京到上海需要多长时间？zuò gāo tiě cóng běi jīng dào shàng hǎi xū yào duō cháng shí jiān?How much time does it take to go from Beijing to Shanghai by high-speed train?
- 你是什么时候开始学汉语的？nǐ shì shén me shí hou kāi shǐ xué hàn yǔ de?When did you start learning Chinese?
常见错误Common mistakes
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✗我吃饭的时间喜欢听音乐。
✓我吃饭的时候喜欢听音乐。
For "when / while doing something", use ……的时候, not 时间.
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✗我今天很忙，没有时候。
✓我今天很忙，没有时间。
"Have no free time" is 没有时间; 时候 cannot be counted or possessed.
重点词语Words in this guide
Common questions
How do I ask "What time is it?" vs "When are you coming?"
Ask clock time with 几点 (现在几点？) and general "when" with 什么时候 (你什么时候来？).