When in Chinese Explained: Questions, Grammar, HSK

When in Chinese is used to ask about time and to describe time-related actions through different grammar structures. This guide explains how to ask and answer “when” questions correctly, use common patterns such as 什么时候 and 当…的时候, and understand how these forms appear in HSK exams.

I. What Does “When” Mean in Chinese?

In English, “when” is a single word used to ask questions about time or to introduce a time clause. But in Chinese, there is no fixed one-to-one equivalent for “when.” Instead, Chinese uses different words or structures depending on whether you're asking a question or referring to a particular moment when something happens.

Two Core Functions of "When" in Chinese:

1. As a question word – to ask “when?”
   The phrase 什么时候 (shénme shíhou) is used to ask about unspecified time.
   Examples:

   • 你什么时候回家？
     When are you going home?

2. As a time expression in a sentence – to say “when something happened”
   In this case, Chinese uses phrases like 当…的时候 (dāng… de shíhou), meaning “when...” as part of a larger statement.
   Examples:

   • 当我吃饭的时候，电话响了。
     When I was eating, the phone rang.

For English speakers, it's natural to expect that “when” can be dropped anywhere in a sentence. But in Chinese, the sentence structure is much more role-dependent:

• 什么时候 = used for open-ended questions

• 当…的时候 = used for time clauses

• Words like 以前, 以后, and 正在…时 are also used to express time-related context

So instead of trying to directly "translate" the English, it’s more useful to master how the sentence is structured to express the same idea clearly in Chinese.

1. How to Ask and Answer “When” Questions in Chinese

In Chinese, when you want to ask “when,” especially about time or events, the most direct and common structure uses the expression 什么时候 (shénme shíhou), which means “what time” or “when.”

How to Ask “When” Questions with 什么时候

Structure:

Subject + 什么时候 + Verb (+ Object)?

This is the most typical word order for asking “when” questions in Mandarin. The time question word 什么时候 usually comes right after the subject, and before the verb of the sentence.

Examples:

• 你什么时候回家？
  When do you go home?

• 他什么时候吃饭？
  When does he eat?

• 你们什么时候考试？
  When is your exam?

Usage Notes:

• Do not place 什么时候 at the beginning of the sentence unless the subject is obvious through context or dropped in casual speech.

• 什么时候 works for present, past, or future tense depending on context—tense is inferred based on the verb or added time phrases like 昨天, 明天, etc.

How to Answer “When” Questions in Chinese

Answers will usually include a specific time point (hour, day, date, or general timeframe) followed by the verb.

Common time expressions used in answers:

• 今天下午 – this afternoon

• 明天早上 – tomorrow morning

• 下个月 – next month

• 周末 – weekend

• 七点 – 7 o’clock

• 三月 – March

Answer structure (basic):

[Time] + Subject + Verb (+ object)

Or in short replies, just the time expression.

Examples:

• 我明天去北京。
  I’m going to Beijing tomorrow.

• 七点开始。
  It starts at 7.

• 星期五考试。
  The test is on Friday.

Grammar Notes:

• Use 了 with completed actions:
  他什么时候走了？(When did he leave?)

• Use 会 for plans or expectations:
  他什么时候会来？(When will he come?)

Understanding how to ask and answer “when” questions allows you to talk about daily plans, schedules, routines, and past events—all essential for both conversation and HSK success.

2. How to Use When in Chinese Grammar Structures

In Chinese, “when” is not only used to ask questions—it's also frequently used in complex sentences to express when something happens, much like time clauses in English.

These structures don’t use 什么时候. Instead, they often use connector phrases like 当…的时候, 以后, 以前, or 正在…时 to create dependent time clauses.

Using 当…的时候 (dāng…de shíhou)

This structure is used to mean “when...” or “at the time when…”. It introduces a background or contextual action.

Structure:

当 + [subject + verb] + 的时候, + [main clause]

Examples:

• 当我回家的时候，妈妈正在做饭。
  When I got home, mom was cooking.

• 当老师在说话的时候，学生听得很认真。
  When the teacher was speaking, the students were listening carefully.

Grammar Notes:

• 的时候 ≈ “at the time of”

• “当” = “when” as a connector, only used in this structural context

Using 以后 / 以前 to Express “After” / “Before”

To say “after” or “before” something happens, you can use:

• Verb/Action + 以后 → after

• Verb/Action + 以前 → before

These are more direct and shorter than 当…的时候, and often used in daily speech.

Examples:

• 下课以后我们去吃饭。
  After class, we will go eat.

• 睡觉以前，我会看书。
  Before sleeping, I read a book.

Usage Tip: 以后 / 以前 usually come after the action, i.e., specifying when the main action will take place relative to something else.

II. “When” in HSK and Chinese Exams

Words like 什么时候, 当...的时候, 以前, 以后 appear in various sections and levels of the test. You’ll encounter them early on, but the complexity of how they’re used increases at higher levels.

HSK Levels Where “When” Structures Appear

Here's a quick overview of where you can expect “when” structures to appear by HSK level:

If you're preparing for HSK 3 or above, these structures become essential for both understanding reading passages and constructing answers with accurate time logic.

How “When” Is Tested in Exams

HSK Listening Section

• You may hear conversational questions starting with “你什么时候……” (When do you…?)

• Example:

  • Dialogue: 你什么时候去图书馆？

  • Question: 他打算去哪里？
    → Tests your ability to track time markers and action correctly.

HSK Reading Section

• Time clauses such as 当…的时候 or 吃饭以后 are frequently used to describe sequences or set context.

• Sample sentence:

  • 当小王到家的时候，妈妈正在做饭。
    → A question may ask: What was happening when Xiao Wang returned home?

This section tests your ability to identify time relationships between clauses and events.

HSK Writing Section

• You may be asked to:

  • Rearrange sentence components including time phrases

  • Write replies or short paragraphs using 什么时候 or 当…的时候

  • Fill in the correct word in cloze-type sentences

Above is the full guide by PREP on how to understand and use “when” in Chinese—from asking questions with 什么时候 to building time clauses with 当...的时候. We hope this helps you talk about time clearly and confidently in both daily conversations and exams. Keep practicing with PREP and turn grammar points into real communication.