到时候 (khi thời điểm đến)

Set a reminder for a known event

• A trip starts next Friday. You will send the meeting point nearer departure.
• down下xiàFriday周五zhōu wǔto set off出发chū fā，when the time comes到时候dào shí houI / me我wǒ(把: marks the object)把bǎplace地点dì diǎn发给你fā gěi nǐ。 — The departure provides the time to which when the time comes到时候dào shí hou refers.

Locate the pattern in real examples

• when the time comes到时候dào shí hou (when the time comes): don't别biéworry急jí,when the time comes到时候dào shí houI / me我wǒto remind提醒tí xǐngyou你nǐ。; early先xiānpreparation准备zhǔn bèigood好hǎo,when the time comes到时候dào shí houthen / just就jiùnot不bùto get panicky慌huāng(completed / change)了le。
• Read the whole clause before choosing a translation. The examples show the pattern in use; the context below determines what the speaker claims.

Follow the speaker

don't别biéworry急jí，when the time comes到时候dào shí houthen再zàitalk说shuō。

• In the opening situation: down下xiàFriday周五zhōu wǔto set off出发chū fā，when the time comes到时候dào shí houI / me我wǒ(把: marks the object)把bǎplace地点dì diǎn发给你fā gěi nǐ。
• The departure provides the time to which when the time comes到时候dào shí hou refers.

Check the limit of the explanation

• A reader needs a recoverable event or time.
• when the time comes到时候dào shí hou does not always mean postponing a decision; it can schedule a definite action.

Repair the form before interpreting it

• The form 到候dào hòuo'clock时shíI / me我wǒto remind提醒tí xǐngyou你nǐ needs repair here. Write when the time comes到时候dào shí houI / me我wǒto remind提醒tí xǐngyou你nǐ 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.

Keep the distinction

Read the full reference: HSK 6 grammar — Adverbs.