(hé shí) - when, at what time (literary) in Mandarin
héshíTraditional: 何時
Translation
when, at what time (literary)
Word origin
A compound of 何 (hé, what, which) and 时 (shí, time), inherited from classical Chinese where 何 was the ordinary question word.
- Origin
- compound
- Root
- 何 (hé, what) + 时 (shí, time)
Stroke order
何
时
Examples
？
When will you be back?
？
When shall we meet again?
。
Who knows when he will finally understand.
。
It is never too late to start.
。
Please tell me when suits you.
何时 (hé shí) means when, but it is the literary register. It belongs in writing, song lyrics, formal speeches and set phrases, not in ordinary conversation.
The spoken equivalent is 什么时候 (shén me shí hou). Ask a friend 你何时回来 and you will sound like a period drama; ask 你什么时候回来 and you sound like a person. Recognise 何时 when you read it, reach for 什么时候 when you speak.
何 is the classical ancestor of 什么 and it survives in a small family of formal words worth spotting together: 为何 (why), 如何 (how), 何必 (what need is there), 任何 (any). All of them lift the register the moment you use them.
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何时: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Mandarin word "何时" (when, at what time (literary)): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 41.