Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar

43

expressing simultaneous situations

43.1 indicating that one situation is the background for

another situation

To indicate that one situation is the background for another situation, say:

S 1 的时候 S 2 /S 1 的時候 S 2

S 1 de shíhou S 2

while/when S 1 , S 2

S 1 and S 2 can be actions or states.

S 1 and S 2 are states

我小的时候，生活很苦。

我小的時候，生活很苦。

Wǒ xiǎo de shíhou, shēnghuó hěn kǔ.

When I was young, life was very hard (bitter).

S 1 and S 2 are actions

我看书的时候，常听音乐。

我看書的時候，常聽音樂。

Wǒ kàn shū de shíhou, cháng tīng yīnyuè.

When I read, I often listen to music.

的时候/的時候 de shíhou can be used when one situation overlaps with the start of another one.

你来的时候，我们正在上课。

你來的時候，我們正在上課。

Nǐ lái de shíhou, wǒmen zhèngzài shàng kè.

When you arrived, we were in class.

However, 的时候/的時候 de shíhou cannot be used when the relationship between S 1 and S 2

is that of sequence. When S 1 and S 2 are related in terms of sequence, use 以后/以後 yǐhòu.

C42.2

The events in the following sentence are related in terms of sequence. Therefore, they should

be connected by 以后/以後 yǐhòu ‘after’ and not 的时候/的時候 de shíhou ‘when.’ Notice

that in English, ‘when’ can be used with sequential situations or with simultaneous situations.

Say this Not this

你吃(完)了晚饭以后请给我打电话。 *你吃完了晚饭的时候请给我打电话。

你吃(完)了晚飯以後請給我打電話。 你吃完了晚飯的時候請給我打電話。

Nǐ chī(wán) le wǎnfàn yǐhòu qǐng gěi

wǒ dǎ diànhuà.

Nǐ chīwán le wán fàn de shíhou qǐng

gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà.

After (when) you finish dinner, please call me.