Expressing simultaneous actions To express tw - Cchatty

Expressing simultaneous actions To express two simultaneous actions, as in “When . . . ” or “While . . . ,” use shíhou 时候.

In English, the “when/while” clause can either begin the sentence or be placed in the subordinate clause. In English, one says either “When Chinese people eat, they use chopsticks” or “Chinese people use chopsticks when they eat.”

In Chinese, the “when/while” clause must come first:
English: She listens to music when she takes a walk.

Chinese: Her walking times (she) listens to music.
Tā sànbù de shíhou tīng yīnyuè.
她散步的时候听音乐。

English: They watch TV when (while) they eat dinner.
Chinese: When (while) they eat dinner, they watch TV.
Tāmen chī wǎnfàn de shíhou kàn diànshì .
他们吃晚饭的时候看电视。

HOWEVER, if by “when” you mean “after . . . ,” then “when . . . ” is translated as yǐhòu 以后: When (after) I graduate, I’m going to China to teach English.

✔ CC: Wǒ bìle yè yǐhòu dào Zhōngguó qù jiāo Yīngyǔ.
我毕了业以后到中国去教英语。
✖ BC: Wǒ bìyè de shíhou dào Zhōngguó qù jiāo Yīngyǔ.
我毕业的时候到中国去教英语。

When I’m graduating, just as I’m walking up to get my diploma, I’m already on my way to China! (Is the graduation hall on the way, or am I grabbing my diploma as I get on the plane?!)

✖ BC: Yǐhòu wǒ bìyèle dào Zhōngguó qù jiāo Yīngyǔ.
以后我毕业了到中国去教英语。

That’s because 以后 and 以前 never come BEFORE what they refer to!