到时候 (when the time comes)
IntroducedSet a reminder for a known event
- A trip starts next Friday. You will send the meeting point nearer departure.
- down下Friday周五to set off出发，when the time comes到时候I / me我(把: marks the object)把place地点发给你。 — The departure provides the time to which when the time comes到时候 refers.
Locate the pattern in real examples
- when the time comes到时候 (when the time comes): don't别worry急,when the time comes到时候I / me我to remind提醒you你。; early先preparation准备good好,when the time comes到时候then / just就not不to get panicky慌(completed / change)了。
- Read the whole clause before choosing a translation. The examples show the pattern in use; the context below determines what the speaker claims.
A trip starts next Friday. You will send the meeting point nearer departure. What does 下周五出发，到时候我把地点发给你。 communicate?
The departure provides the time to which 到时候 refers. A reader needs a recoverable event or time. 到时候 does not always mean postponing a decision; it can schedule a definite action.
Follow the speaker
don't别worry急，when the time comes到时候then再talk说。
- In the opening situation: down下Friday周五to set off出发，when the time comes到时候I / me我(把: marks the object)把place地点发给你。
- The departure provides the time to which when the time comes到时候 refers.
Using the pattern named in this lesson: Don't worry, we'll see when the time comes: 别急，____ 再说。
A，到时候 + B = when the time comes: 到时候再说.
到时候 refers to a future point in time.
Yes — “by then / when it's time”.
Check the limit of the explanation
- A reader needs a recoverable event or time.
- when the time comes到时候 does not always mean postponing a decision; it can schedule a definite action.
到时候 always means that the speaker refuses to make any plan.
A reader needs a recoverable event or time. 到时候 does not always mean postponing a decision; it can schedule a definite action. The departure provides the time to which 到时候 refers.
Repair the form before interpreting it
- The form 到候o'clock时I / me我to remind提醒you你 needs repair here. Write when the time comes到时候I / me我to remind提醒you你 instead; keep the word or frame in its demonstrated order.
- Form and meaning are separate checks. After the repair, explain the sentence in its situation rather than treating a familiar translation as a universal rule.
Rewrite the demonstrated repair exactly: 到候时我提醒你
The demonstrated form is 到时候我提醒你. The departure provides the time to which 到时候 refers.
Keep the distinction
- The departure provides the time to which when the time comes到时候 refers. Check the relevant speaker, time or group in the surrounding context.
- A reader needs a recoverable event or time. when the time comes到时候 does not always mean postponing a decision; it can schedule a definite action.
Read the full reference: HSK 6 grammar — Adverbs.
到时候 points to…
到时候 defers things to the relevant future point.
A trip starts next Friday. You will send the meeting point nearer departure. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.