1
什么时候 (shénme shíhou) = “whenever”
什么时候 literally means “what time” or “when,” but in WH-ever sentences, it means “whenever”. This structure expresses that an action will occur at any time that a certain condition is met.
The pattern follows the same conditional structure as other WH-ever expressions: 什么时候 + Condition, 就 + 什么时候 + Result.
S +
什么时候 +
Condition +
就 +
什么时候 +
Result
Time-Based Conditional Flow
Time Condition
什么时候打折
whenever has discount
Sets the time-based condition
Timed Action
什么时候去
goes at that time
Action synchronized with condition
Complete Sentence: 那家店什么时候打折，妹妹就什么时候去。
(My sister will go to that shop whenever they have a sales promotion.)
Examples with 什么时候 (whenever)
| Structure |
Chinese |
English Translation |
Audio |
| S + 什么时候 + Condition, 就 + 什么时候 + Result |
那家店什么时候打折，妹妹就什么时候去。
nà jiā diàn shénme shíhou dǎzhé, mèimei jiù shénme shíhou qù.
|
My sister will go to that shop whenever they have a sales promotion. |
|
| S + 什么时候 + Condition, S + 就 + 什么时候 + Result |
你什么时候下班，我就什么时候开始做饭。
nǐ shénme shíhou xiàbān, wǒ jiù shénme shíhou kāishǐ zuòfàn.
|
I will start cooking whenever you finish work. |
|
| S + 什么时候 + Condition, 就 + 什么时候 + Result |
你什么时候想去台湾玩儿，就什么时候跟我说。
nǐ shénme shíhou xiǎng qù táiwān wánr, jiù shénme shíhou gēn wǒ shuō.
|
You can tell me whenever you want to go to Taiwan. |
|
什么时候 Meaning Shift
什么时候 changes from a time question to “whenever”:
As Question:
你什么时候下班？
nǐ shénme shíhou xiàbān?
What time do you finish work? (asking for specific time)
As “Whenever”:
你什么时候下班，我就什么时候开始做饭。
nǐ shénme shíhou xiàbān, wǒ jiù shénme shíhou kāishǐ zuòfàn.
Whenever you finish work, I start cooking (any time condition is met).
Time Synchronization
The structure creates time synchronization:
Synchronized Actions:
你下班 → 我开始做饭
you finish work → I start cooking
Relationship: My action is timed to match yours
Flexible Timing:
Whenever condition happens → action happens at that same time
No fixed schedule, action adapts to condition timing
Subject Variations
Different subject arrangements:
Different Subjects:
你什么时候下班，我就什么时候开始做饭。
You finish work (condition) → I start cooking (action)
Subject 1: 你 (condition subject)
Subject 2: 我 (action subject)
Same Subject:
你什么时候想去，就什么时候跟我说。
You want to go (condition) → you tell me (action)
Same Subject: 你 (both condition and action)
Time Condition Types
Different kinds of time conditions:
External Event:
那家店什么时候打折
whenever that shop has a discount
Condition: External commercial event
Personal Schedule:
你什么时候下班
whenever you finish work
Condition: Personal work schedule
Personal Desire:
你什么时候想去
whenever you want to go
Condition: Personal wish or preference
商业活动
什么时候打折
shénme shíhou dǎzhé
whenever has discount
Used for commercial events like sales, promotions, or discounts
工作时间
什么时候下班
shénme shíhou xiàbān
whenever finish work
Used for work schedules and coordinating activities around work
个人意愿
什么时候想去
shénme shíhou xiǎng qù
whenever want to go
Used for personal desires, wishes, or preferences
2
哪 + Measure Word = “whichever”
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3
几/多少 + M = “as many/much as”, “however many/much”
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Practice Exercises
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