Chinese · Question Words

什么时候

shénme shíhou

When

Beginnerphrase

Definition

Used to ask about a time.

Example

你什么时候来中国?

When are you coming to China?

Etymology

'什么时候' (shénme shíhou) translates directly to 'what time' and combines the elements of '什么' (what) and '时候' (time). It reflects the evolution of questioning concerning temporal aspects.

How & Where It’s Used

'什么时候' (shénme shíhou) appears in both spoken and formal written contexts, commonly used to inquire about timing in everyday situations.

Watch “When” pronunciation on YouTube
questiontime

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