时候
你什么时候有空？
When are you free?
A point in time or a period of time; moment
我小时候住在北京。
I lived in Beijing when I was little.
那个时候我们还很年轻。
We were very young at that time.
Used to refer to a specific time or period, often with an implied context. Can be combined with other words (e.g., 时候了=now/it's time).
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
When to use 时候 vs. 时间
Use 时候 for specific moments or periods with context (e.g., 你什么时候来？), and 时间 for general time or duration (e.g., 我没有时间).
Gold Rule
Highlighting context
时候 often requires context to be fully understood. For example, 小时候 means 'when I was little,' where the context is implied by the word itself.
Word Origin
Composed of 时 (time, moment) and 候 (wait, moment). The combination emphasizes a specific point or duration in time.
Usage Notes
时候 is more specific than 时间 (time in general) and often implies a context or situation. It is commonly used in questions about time (e.g., 什么时候？) or to refer to past periods (e.g., 小时候=childhood).