Difference between “当…时”, “…的时候”, and “当…的时候”?
What is the difference between :
> “当…时”
and
> “…的时候”
and
> “当…的时候”
when refer to "when" in Chinese?
I have tried to look for an answer but I couldn't find a clear one.
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3 Answers By Expert Tutors
Derek S. answered • 02/07/22
Tutor
New to Wyzant
Chinese Mandarin Tutor for Kids and Adults
Difference between “当…时”, “…的时候”, and “当…的时候”?
...的时候 means "when....". It's used for daily speech.
当...时 and 当...的时候. The same meaning is generally used when referring to the past.
Cathy S. answered • 06/03/21
Tutor
0
(0)
Expert Mandarin Teacher
The meaning is the same with all three; the difference is primarily a matter of register: 当...时 is the most formal; 当...的时候 next, and ...的时候 the most colloquial.
当...的时候=when
当...时=as
...的时候=when， normally
short time
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Yuan C.
As a native Chinese speaker, I think the first two are pretty interchangeable. Most of the times, it depends on the context in which you are using the sentence. For example, "当" is relatively formal and usually includes a complete sentence, e.g. "当(你)遇到困难时." While using "的时候" is more colloquial, but does not require a complete sentence, such as "吃饭的时候.“ Like "的时候", "...时" is simple, direct, and formal. "当...的时候” feels a bit redundant, but there is no harm using it in conversations.05/29/20