Correct
时候 vs 时间
/ shíhou vs shíjiān /
Strokes
Formula
1
时间跨度 (span of time)
2
时间观念 (the concept of time)
3
这 + 时候 (at this time)
4
那 + 时候 (at that time)
Definition
时候 and 时间 both are Nouns, which means [time].
Example
时候 indicates "either a point of time or a period of time"; 时间 can refer either to a continuous quantity from the past, through the present and into the future or a point or a period of time.
1) 时候 is more colloquial than 时间.
2) In examples ① and ② the two words are interchangeable.
2) In examples ① and ② the two words are interchangeable.
1
Xiànzài
现在
shì
是
shénme
什么
shíhou
时候
(
shíjiān
时间
)
le
了
?
Dào
到
sān
三
diǎn
点
le
了
ma
吗
?
What time is it? Is it three o'clock?
2
Tā
他
zài
在
diànnǎo
电脑
shàng
上
dá
打
zhème
这么
yī
一
duàn
段
zì
字
,
yòng
用
bu
不
liǎo
了
duōshǎo
多少
shíhou
时候
(
shíjiān
时间
)
。
It took him only a few minutes to type this paragraph on the computer.
时间 is used in more literary language.
3
Shíjiān
时间
jǐn
紧
,
rènwu
任务
chóng
重
。
Time is pressing and the task heavy.
4
Bàngōng
办公
shíjiān
时间
bùzhǔn
不准
xīyān
吸烟
。
Smoking is not allowed during office hours.
时间 can function the concept of time as the attributive and make up phrases; while 时候 cannot.
时间跨度 (span of time)
时间观念 (the concept of time)
5
Tā
他
qiángdiào
强调
shuō
说
,
wǒmen
我们
yīnggāi
应该
yǒu
有
shíjiān
时间
guānniàn
观念
。
He stressed that we should have a sense of time.
6
Tóuzīzhě
投资者
men
们
de
的
dáàn
答案
qǔjuéyú
取决于
qí
其
shíjiān
时间
kuàdù
跨度
。
The answer for investors depends on their time horizon.
时候 can be qualified by 这 or 那 to show a point of time.
这 + 时候 (at this time)
那 + 时候 (at that time)
7
Jiù
就
zài
在
nà
那
shíhòu
时候
,
jǐngchá
警察
chūxiàn
出现
le
了
。
Just at this moment,the policeman appeared.
8
Jiù
就
zài
在
zhèshíhòu
这时候
,
tāngmǔ
汤姆
zǒu
走
le
了
jìnlái
进来
。
At that very minute, Tom walked in.
时候 is used to show "under the above circumstances".
9
Rúguǒ
如果
nǐ
你
yùdào
遇到
le
了
xiāngsì
相似
de
的
kùnnan
困难
,
zhèshíhòu
这时候
nǐ
你
zěnme
怎么
bàn
办
ne
呢
?
How will you do if you face the similar difficulties?