When in Chinese Grammar: 的时候 (de shíhou), 以前 and 以后

To say "when" in Chinese grammar, describe the event first and add 的时候 (de shíhou) at its end: Event + 的时候，Main Clause. 我吃饭的时候 means "when I eat". 以前 (yǐqián, before) and 以后 (yǐhòu, after) work the same way. They come after the event or time word, and the whole phrase goes at the start of the sentence.

These words are part of HSK 1 and HSK 2, and you will use them every day. This article covers word order, 以前 and 以后 after a clause or time word, both words on their own, 之前 and 之后, 的时候 vs 时, and 以后 with 了. There is also a table, two dialogues, common mistakes and a quiz. If you are new to Chinese word order, read our Chinese grammar basics for new learners first.

When in Chinese Grammar: The 的时候 (de shíhou) Rule

In English, "when" can go in the middle: "I listen to music when I run." Chinese doesn't allow that. The time part comes first, then what happens.

Event + 的时候，Main Clause

我跑步的时候喜欢听音乐。
- Pinyin: Wǒ pǎobù de shíhou xǐhuan tīng yīnyuè.
- English: I like listening to music when I run.
下雨的时候，我们就在家看电影。
- Pinyin: Xià yǔ de shíhou, wǒmen jiù zài jiā kàn diànyǐng.
- English: When it rains, we just stay home and watch movies.
我到机场的时候，飞机已经起飞了。
- Pinyin: Wǒ dào jīchǎng de shíhou, fēijī yǐjīng qǐfēi le.
- English: When I got to the airport, the plane had already taken off.

Why this order? Chinese likes to set the scene before the action. You already do this with 我明天去 (I tomorrow go). A 的时候 phrase is just a longer time word, so it sits in the same place.

的时候 does not show past or future. Context does that:

你到上海的时候告诉我。
- Pinyin: Nǐ dào Shànghǎi de shíhou gàosu wǒ.
- English: Let me know when you get to Shanghai.

Where the Subject Goes

If both parts have the same subject, you can put it in either place: 我在北京的时候，常常… or 在北京的时候，我常常…. If the subjects are different, each part keeps its own:

你到的时候，我可能还在开会。
- Pinyin: Nǐ dào de shíhou, wǒ kěnéng hái zài kāihuì.
- English: When you arrive, I might still be in a meeting.

Adjective or Noun + 的时候

的时候 can also follow an adjective. 小时候 (as a child) is a fixed word with no 的.

我爸爸年轻的时候很瘦。
- Pinyin: Wǒ bàba niánqīng de shíhou hěn shòu.
- English: My dad was very thin when he was young.
我小时候住在农村。
- Pinyin: Wǒ xiǎo shíhou zhù zài nóngcūn.
- English: I lived in the countryside when I was little.

Before and After in Chinese: 以前 (yǐqián) and 以后 (yǐhòu)

Event / Time Word + 以前，Main Clause Event / Time Word + 以后，Main Clause

The order is the same as with 的时候. The event comes first, then 以前 or 以后, then the main clause.

以前 (yǐqián): "Before"

睡觉以前，别喝咖啡。
- Pinyin: Shuìjiào yǐqián, bié hē kāfēi.
- English: Don't drink coffee before bed.
我八点以前要到公司。
- Pinyin: Wǒ bā diǎn yǐqián yào dào gōngsī.
- English: I have to be at the office before eight.
来以前给我打个电话。
- Pinyin: Lái yǐqián gěi wǒ dǎ ge diànhuà.
- English: Give me a call before you come.

以后 (yǐhòu): "After"

下班以后我去健身房。
- Pinyin: Xiàbān yǐhòu wǒ qù jiànshēnfáng.
- English: I go to the gym after work.
毕业以后，她回老家当了老师。
- Pinyin: Bìyè yǐhòu, tā huí lǎojiā dāng le lǎoshī.
- English: After graduating, she went back to her hometown and became a teacher.

Length of Time + 以前 or 以后: "Ago" and "Later"

After a length of time, 以前 means "ago" and 以后 means "later" or "in (two weeks)".

三年以前，我第一次来中国。
- Pinyin: Sān nián yǐqián, wǒ dì-yī cì lái Zhōngguó.
- English: Three years ago, I came to China for the first time.
两个星期以后我们就要搬家了。
- Pinyin: Liǎng ge xīngqī yǐhòu wǒmen jiù yào bānjiā le.
- English: We're moving in two weeks.

In speech, people often shorten these to 三年前 and 两个星期后.

以前 vs 以后 on Their Own: "In the Past" and "In the Future"

Without anything in front, 以前 means "before, in the past, used to". It often sets up a contrast with 现在.

我以前不喜欢吃辣的，现在很喜欢。
- Pinyin: Wǒ yǐqián bù xǐhuan chī là de, xiànzài hěn xǐhuan.
- English: I didn't use to like spicy food, but now I love it.
以前这里是一个公园。
- Pinyin: Yǐqián zhèlǐ shì yí ge gōngyuán.
- English: This used to be a park.

On its own, 以后 means "in the future, later, from now on".

你以后想做什么工作？
- Pinyin: Nǐ yǐhòu xiǎng zuò shénme gōngzuò?
- English: What kind of job do you want to do in the future?
以后我每天早上都要跑步。
- Pinyin: Yǐhòu wǒ měi tiān zǎoshang dōu yào pǎobù.
- English: From now on, I'm going to run every morning.

以后 vs 后来

When 以后 stands alone, it usually points forward from now. For "later" or "afterwards" in a story about the past, most speakers use 后来 (hòulái):

我本来想学医，后来学了法律。
- Pinyin: Wǒ běnlái xiǎng xué yī, hòulái xué le fǎlǜ.
- English: At first I wanted to study medicine, but later I studied law.

After an event, 以后 is fine in the past too (毕业以后, 她…). You will also see it in the set phrase 从那以后, "since then".

之前 and 之后: More Formal Versions

之前 (zhīqián) and 之后 (zhīhòu) mean the same as 以前 and 以后 after an event or time word. They sound a little more formal and are common in writing, emails and the news, though plenty of people use them in speech too.

会议之前，请把资料发给大家。
- Pinyin: Huìyì zhīqián, qǐng bǎ zīliào fāgěi dàjiā.
- English: Please send the materials to everyone before the meeting.
一个小时之后，雨停了。
- Pinyin: Yí ge xiǎoshí zhīhòu, yǔ tíng le.
- English: An hour later, the rain stopped.

On their own, there is a small difference. 以前 tends to mean "in the past, back then". 之前 means "earlier, before (this)", often about something recent:

我之前跟你说过这件事。
- Pinyin: Wǒ zhīqián gēn nǐ shuōguo zhè jiàn shì.
- English: I told you about this before.

Native speakers don't always keep this line sharp, so don't worry if you hear 以前 used the same way.

的时候 vs 时

时 (shí) is a short, more written form of 的时候. You see it on signs, in instructions and in the news.

开车时请不要打电话。
- Pinyin: Kāichē shí qǐng bú yào dǎ diànhuà.
- English: Please don't make phone calls while driving.
出门时别忘了关灯。
- Pinyin: Chūmén shí bié wàng le guān dēng.
- English: Don't forget to turn off the lights when you go out.

Use the full 的时候 or the short 时, but not a mix like "吃饭的时". And watch out for 有时候: it means "sometimes", not "when".

Using 以后 with 了: 下了班以后

Verb + 了 + Object + 以后，Main Clause

You will often hear 了 inside an 以后 phrase. Here 了 means "once this is finished", not "past tense", so it works for the future too.

下了班以后，我们去喝一杯吧。
- Pinyin: Xià le bān yǐhòu, wǒmen qù hē yì bēi ba.
- English: Let's go for a drink after work.
明天吃了早饭以后，我们就出发。
- Pinyin: Míngtiān chī le zǎofàn yǐhòu, wǒmen jiù chūfā.
- English: Tomorrow we'll set off after breakfast.

The 了 is optional. 下班以后 is just as correct. But 了 does not go with 以前, because the action has not happened yet: say 吃饭以前, not "吃了饭以前". Our guide to the particle 了 covers this use of 了 in more detail.

的时候, 以前, 以后: Comparison Table

Word	Meaning	After an event or time	On its own	Example
的时候	when, while	Yes	No	我做饭的时候听音乐。
时	when (written)	Yes	No	出门时别忘了关灯。
以前	before	Yes	in the past, used to	他以前是医生。
之前	before (more formal)	Yes	earlier, before this	之前我们见过。
以后	after	Yes	in the future, from now on	以后常联系。
之后	after (more formal)	Yes	after that	考试之后我想去旅游。
后来	afterwards (past only)	No	Yes	后来他回国了。

Real-Life Dialogues with 的时候, 以前 and 以后

Dialogue 1: Plans After Work

A: 你几点下班？
- Pinyin: Nǐ jǐ diǎn xiàbān?
- English: What time do you finish work?
B: 六点以后就没事了。
- Pinyin: Liù diǎn yǐhòu jiù méi shì le.
- English: I'm free after six.
A: 下了班以后，我们去吃火锅吧。
- Pinyin: Xià le bān yǐhòu, wǒmen qù chī huǒguō ba.
- English: Let's go for hot pot after work.
B: 好啊！出发以前给我发个消息。
- Pinyin: Hǎo a! Chūfā yǐqián gěi wǒ fā ge xiāoxi.
- English: Sure! Send me a message before you leave.
A: 没问题，我到的时候在门口等你。
- Pinyin: Méi wèntí, wǒ dào de shíhou zài ménkǒu děng nǐ.
- English: No problem. When I get there, I'll wait for you at the door.

Dialogue 2: Back in Beijing

A: 你以前来过北京吗？
- Pinyin: Nǐ yǐqián láiguo Běijīng ma?
- English: Have you been to Beijing before?
B: 上大学的时候来过一次。
- Pinyin: Shàng dàxué de shíhou láiguo yí cì.
- English: Once, when I was at university.
A: 那时候北京跟现在一样吗？
- Pinyin: Nà shíhou Běijīng gēn xiànzài yíyàng ma?
- English: Was Beijing the same back then?
B: 不一样。以前这里没有地铁站，现在方便多了。
- Pinyin: Bù yíyàng. Yǐqián zhèlǐ méiyǒu dìtiě zhàn, xiànzài fāngbiàn duō le.
- English: No. There was no subway station here before. It's much easier now.
A: 以后有机会，我们一起去长城吧。
- Pinyin: Yǐhòu yǒu jīhuì, wǒmen yìqǐ qù Chángchéng ba.
- English: When we get the chance, let's go to the Great Wall together.

Common Mistakes with 的时候, 以前 and 以后

Mistake 1: Putting the 的时候 Part at the End

Wrong: 我很紧张我考试的时候。
Right: 我考试的时候很紧张。
- Pinyin: Wǒ kǎoshì de shíhou hěn jǐnzhāng.
- English: I get nervous when I take exams.

Mistake 2: Using 当…的时候 Everywhere

Stiff: 当我饿的时候，我吃面包。
Better: 我饿的时候就吃面包。
- Pinyin: Wǒ è de shíhou jiù chī miànbāo.
- English: When I'm hungry, I eat bread.

The first sentence is not strictly ungrammatical, but it sounds stiff, like a word-for-word copy of "when". 当 (dāng) fits in writing and longer sentences, such as 当我第一次看到长城的时候…. In everyday speech, leave it out.

Mistake 3: Flipping "Before" Around

To say "I wash my hands before I eat":

Wrong: 我洗手以前吃饭。 (This means "Before I wash my hands, I eat.")
Right: 吃饭以前，我先洗手。
- Pinyin: Chī fàn yǐqián, wǒ xiān xǐ shǒu.
- English: I wash my hands before I eat.

Put the later action in front of 以前 and the earlier one in the main clause.

Mistake 4: Using 以后 Alone for "Later" in the Past

Unnatural: 我们是在大学认识的，以后结婚了。
Better: 我们是在大学认识的，后来结婚了。
- Pinyin: Wǒmen shì zài dàxué rènshi de, hòulái jiéhūn le.
- English: We met at university and later got married.

The 是…的 frame here is explained in our guide to 是…的.

Practice Quiz: 的时候, 以前 or 以后?

Fill in each blank. Answers are below.

睡觉 ___，我会刷牙。 (Before I go to bed, I brush my teeth.)
我 ___ 是老师，现在是翻译。 (I used to be a teacher. Now I'm a translator.)
我在中国 ___，学会了用筷子。 (When I was in China, I learned to use chopsticks.)
下了课 ___，我们去打篮球吧。 (Let's play basketball after class.)
你 ___ 想住在哪儿？ (Where do you want to live in the future?)

Answers

以前 (after an event)
以前 (on its own, "used to")
的时候 (when)
以后 (with 了, "once class is over")
以后 (on its own, "in the future")

For more HSK 2 patterns like these, see our HSK 2 grammar list.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you say "when" in Chinese grammar?

Put 的时候 after the event: 我工作的时候 means "when I work". The whole phrase normally comes at the start of the sentence, before the main clause, which is the opposite of English.

What is the difference between 以前 and 以后?

以前 (yǐqián) means "before" and 以后 (yǐhòu) means "after". Both go after a clause or time word, as in 睡觉以前 (before bed) and 下班以后 (after work). On their own, 以前 means "in the past" and 以后 means "in the future".

Is 之前 the same as 以前?

After a clause or time word they mean the same thing, and 之前 sounds a little more formal. On their own they differ: 以前 usually means "in the past, used to", while 之前 means "earlier, before that", often about something recent.

Do I need 当 with 的时候?

No. 当 is optional and mostly used in writing or in longer sentences. In everyday speech, 我在家的时候 sounds more natural than 当我在家的时候.

What is the difference between 的时候 and 时?

They mean the same thing. 时 is shorter and more written, so you see it on signs and in the news. Use either 的时候 or 时, but never 的时.

What's Next

Once these feel natural, look at the other small time words. Our article on 刚 vs 刚才 covers how to say "just" and "just now".

Learn Chinese is free to download on iOS and Android, with HSK vocabulary, built-in audio, grammar lessons and practice tests to help you use 的时候, 以前 and 以后 correctly. HSK 1 and 2 are free in full, and Learn Chinese Pro adds HSK 3 to 6.