時候

See also: 时候

Chinese

		o'clock; time; when o'clock; time; when; hour; season; period	wait
trad. (時候)		時	候
simp. (时候)		时	候

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Standard)

  (Pinyin): shíhou, shíhòu

  (Zhuyin): ㄕˊ ˙ㄏㄡ, ㄕˊ ㄏㄡˋ

  (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): si² hou⁴

  (Xi'an, Guanzhong Pinyin): síhou

  (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): сыху (sɨhu, I-II)

• Cantonese

  (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): si⁴ hau⁶

  (Yangjiang, Jyutping++): si⁴ hau⁶

• Gan (Wiktionary): si⁴ heu⁵
• Hakka

  (Sixian, PFS): sṳ̀-heu

  (Meixian, Guangdong): si² hêu⁴

• Jin (Wiktionary): si¹ hou³
• Northern Min (KCR): sî-hē
• Eastern Min (BUC): sì-hâiu
• Southern Min

  (Hokkien, POJ): sî-hāu / sî-hiō

  (Teochew, Peng'im): si⁵ hao⁷

• Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): ⁶zy-gheu
• Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): shr² hou

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese, standard in Mainland)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: shíhou
    • Zhuyin: ㄕˊ ˙ㄏㄡ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: shíhho̊u
    • Wade–Giles: shih²-hou⁵
    • Yale: shŕ-hou
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shyr.hou
    • Palladius: шихоу (šixou)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʂʐ̩³⁵ xoʊ̯³/
      
  • (Standard Chinese, erhua-ed) (時候兒／时候儿)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: shíhour
    • Zhuyin: ㄕˊ ˙ㄏㄡㄦ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: shíhho̊ur
    • Wade–Giles: shih²-hou⁵-ʼrh
    • Yale: shŕ-hour
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shyr.houl
    • Palladius: шихоур (šixour)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʂʐ̩³⁵ xɤʊ̯ɻʷ³/
      
  • (Standard Chinese, standard in Taiwan)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: shíhòu
    • Zhuyin: ㄕˊ ㄏㄡˋ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: shíhhòu
    • Wade–Giles: shih²-hou⁴
    • Yale: shŕ-hòu
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shyrhow
    • Palladius: шихоу (šixou)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʂʐ̩³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹/
  • (Chengdu)
    • Sichuanese Pinyin: si² hou⁴
    • Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: s xou
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sz̩²¹ xəu²¹³/
  • (Xi'an)
    • Guanzhong Pinyin: síhou
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sz̩²⁴ xɤu/
  • (Dungan)
    • Cyrillic and Wiktionary: сыху (sɨhu, I-II)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sz̩²⁴ xou⁵¹/

    (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)

• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
    • Jyutping: si⁴ hau⁶
    • Yale: sìh hauh
    • Cantonese Pinyin: si⁴ hau⁶
    • Guangdong Romanization: xi⁴ heo⁶
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /siː²¹ hɐu̯²²/
  • (Yangjiang Yue, Jiangcheng)
    • Jyutping++: si⁴ hau⁶
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʃi⁴² hɐu⁵⁵/
• Gan
  • (Nanchang)
    • Wiktionary: si⁴ heu⁵
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sz̩³⁵ hɛu¹¹/
• Hakka
  • (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: sṳ̀-heu
    • Hakka Romanization System: sii^ˇ heu
    • Hagfa Pinyim: si² heu⁴
    • Sinological IPA: /sɨ¹¹ heu̯⁵⁵/
  • (Meixian)
    • Guangdong: si² hêu⁴
    • Sinological IPA: /sz̩¹¹ heu⁵³/
• Jin
  • (Taiyuan)⁺
    • Wiktionary: si¹ hou³
    • Sinological IPA (old-style): /sz̩¹¹ xəu⁴⁵/
• Northern Min
  • (Jian'ou)
    • Kienning Colloquial Romanized: sî-hē
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /si³³ xe⁵⁵/
• Eastern Min
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: sì-hâiu
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /si⁵³⁻²¹ ^(h-)ɑu²⁴²/
• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Zhangzhou, General Taiwanese)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sî-hāu
    • Tâi-lô: sî-hāu
    • Phofsit Daibuun: si'hau
    • IPA (Xiamen): /si²⁴⁻²² hau²²/
    • IPA (Taipei): /si²⁴⁻¹¹ hau³³/
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /si¹³⁻²² hau²²/
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /si²³⁻³³ hau³³/
  • (Hokkien: Quanzhou)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sî-hiō
    • Tâi-lô: sî-hiō
    • Phofsit Daibuun: si'hioi
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /si²⁴⁻²² hio⁴¹/
  • (Teochew)
    • Peng'im: si⁵ hao⁷
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: sî hāu
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /si⁵⁵⁻¹¹ hau¹¹/
• Wu
  • (Northern: Shanghai)
    • Wugniu: ⁶zy-gheu
    • MiniDict: zy^去 gheu
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ³zr-hheu
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /zz̩²² ɦɤ⁴⁴/
• Xiang
  • (Changsha)
    • Wiktionary: shr² hou
    • Sinological IPA ^(key) (old-style): /ʂʐ̩¹³ xəu̯³/
    • Sinological IPA ^(key) (new-style): /sz̩¹³ xəu̯³/

---

• Middle Chinese: dzyi huwH

Rime
Character	時	候
Reading #	1/1	1/1
Initial (聲)	常 (25)	匣 (33)
Final (韻)	之 (19)	侯 (137)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)	Departing (H)
Openness (開合)	Open	Open
Division (等)	III	I
Fanqie	市之切	胡遘切
Baxter	dzyi	huwH
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/d͡ʑɨ/	/ɦəuH/
Pan Wuyun	/d͡ʑɨ/	/ɦəuH/
Shao Rongfen	/d͡ʑie/	/ɣəuH/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/d͡ʑɨ/	/ɦəwH/
Li Rong	/ʑiə/	/ɣuH/
Wang Li	/ʑĭə/	/ɣəuH/
Bernard Karlgren	/ʑi/	/ɣə̯uH/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	chí	hòu
Expected Cantonese Reflex	si4	hau6

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*[d]ə  [ɡ]ˤ(r)o-s/

  (Zhengzhang): /*djɯ  ɡoːs/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	時	候
Reading #	1/1	1/1
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	shí	hòu
Middle Chinese	‹ dzyi ›	‹ huwH ›
Old Chinese	/*[d]ə/ (~ *[d]əʔ)	/*[ɡ]ˁ(r)o-s/
English	time	wait upon
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	時	候
Reading #	1/1	1/1
No.	12042	5154
Phonetic component	寺	侯
Rime group	之	侯
Rime subdivision	0	0
Corresponding MC rime	時	𠋫
Old Chinese	/*djɯ/	/*ɡoːs/

Noun

時候

1. period of time

   上課的時候／上课的时候  ―  shàngkè de shíhou  ―  during class

   • 我在蒙自住過五個月，我的家也在那裡住過兩個月。我現在常常想起這個地方，特別是在人事繁忙的時候。蒙自小得好，人少得好。 [MSC, trad.]
     我在蒙自住过五个月，我的家也在那里住过两个月。我现在常常想起这个地方，特别是在人事繁忙的时候。蒙自小得好，人少得好。 [MSC, simp.]

     From: 朱自清 (Zhu Ziqing), 《蒙自雜記》

     Wǒ zài Méngzì zhù guò wǔ ge yuè, wǒ de jiā yě zài nàlǐ zhù guò liǎng ge yuè. Wǒ xiànzài chángcháng xiǎngqǐ zhè ge dìfang, tèbié shì zài rénshì fánmáng de shíhou. Méngzì xiǎo de hǎo, rén shǎo de hǎo. [Pinyin]

     I lived in Mengzi for five months, and my family two months. I often think of the place now, especially when my social life is busy. Mengzi is good because it's small and sparsely populated.

2. a point in time

   到時候再決定吧。 [MSC, trad.]
   到时候再决定吧。 [MSC, simp.]

   Dào shíhou zài juédìng ba. [Pinyin]

   We'll decide later.

   時候不早了，趕快睡覺吧！ [MSC, trad.]
   时候不早了，赶快睡觉吧！ [MSC, simp.]

   Shíhou bùzǎo le, gǎnkuài shuìjiào ba! [Pinyin]

   It's getting late. Get to bed!

   這個時候該怎麼辦呢？ [MSC, trad.]
   这个时候该怎么办呢？ [MSC, simp.]

   Zhège shíhou gāi zěnme bàn ne? [Pinyin]

   What do I do at this moment?

   你知道現在是什麼時候了嗎？ [MSC, trad.]
   你知道现在是什么时候了吗？ [MSC, simp.]

   Nǐ zhīdào xiànzài shì shénme shíhou le ma? [Pinyin]

   Do you know what time is it now?

3. (Classical) season and climate

Usage notes

Often placed at the end of a clause, and preceded by 的 (de), to indicate when something happens. For example:

• 當我想你的時候／当我想你的时候  ―  dāng wǒ xiǎng nǐ de shíhou  ―  when I think of you

Note that 當／当 (dāng) is often omitted, and that 時／时 (shí) (not preceded by 的 (de)) can also be used the same way.

Synonyms

Dialectal synonyms of 時候 (“time”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		時候
Northeastern Mandarin	Beijing	時候兒, 工夫兒
	Taiwan	時候
	Malaysia	時候
	Singapore	時候
Jilu Mandarin	Jinan	時候
Central Plains Mandarin	Luoyang	時候兒
	Wanrong	時候
	Xi'an	時候, 時間
	Xining	時候
	Sokuluk (Gansu Dungan)	時候, 時候兒
Lanyin Mandarin	Ürümqi	時節
Southwestern Mandarin	Chengdu	時候
	Wuhan	時辰, 時候
Jianghuai Mandarin	Yangzhou	時候
	Hefei	時候
Cantonese	Guangzhou	時候
	Hong Kong	時候
	Yangjiang	時候
	Singapore (Guangfu)	時候
Gan	Nanchang	時間, 時候, 場中
	Pingxiang	時會
Hakka	Meixian	時候
	Changting	時節
	Liancheng	時節
	Miaoli (N. Sixian)	時節
	Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)	時節
	Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)	時節
	Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)	時節
	Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)	時節
	Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)	時務
Huizhou	Jixi	時候
Jin	Taiyuan	時候
Northern Min	Jian'ou	時候
Eastern Min	Fuzhou	辰候, 時候
	Fuzhou (Changle)	辰候
	Fuqing	時辰
	Yongtai	辰候
	Gutian	辰候
	Fu'an	辰候
	Ningde	流桓
	Shouning	辰候
	Zhouning	辰候
	Fuding	辰候
Southern Min	Xiamen	時陣, 時節
	Xiamen (Tong'an)	時陣
	Quanzhou	時陣
	Jinjiang	時節, 時陣
	Shishi	時陣
	Anxi	時陣
	Yongchun	時節, 時陣
	Zhangzhou	時陣
	Zhangzhou (Longhai)	時陣
	Zhangzhou (Changtai)	時陣
	Zhao'an	時陣
	Taipei	時陣
	New Taipei (Sanxia)	時陣
	Kaohsiung	時陣
	Yilan	時陣, 當時
	Changhua (Lukang)	時陣
	Taichung	時陣
	Taichung (Wuqi)	時陣
	Tainan	時陣
	Taitung	時陣
	Hsinchu	時陣
	Kinmen	時陣
	Penghu (Magong)	時陣
	Singapore (Hokkien)	時陣
	Manila (Hokkien)	時陣, 時節
	Chaozhou	時陣, 時候
	Shantou	時候
	Shantou (Chaoyang)	時候
	Jieyang	時陣
	Singapore (Teochew)	時候
	Wenchang	時候
	Qionghai	時候
	Singapore (Hainanese)	時候
Puxian Min	Putian	時節, 時頭
	Xianyou	時節
Wu	Shanghai	辰光
	Shanghai (Chongming)	辰光
	Suzhou	辰光
	Danyang	時候, 辰光
	Hangzhou	辰光
	Hangzhou (Yuhang)	辰光
	Ningbo	辰光, 時節 rare, 時候 dated
	Wenzhou	時節
	Jinhua	時節
Xiang	Changsha	時候
	Loudi	時界, 時界唧, 時際
	Shuangfeng	時候, 時基, 時家

• (time): 年數／年数 (niánshù), 年代 (niándài), (archaic) 年紀／年纪 (niánjì), 時間／时间 (shíjiān)

Derived terms

• 什麼時候／什么时候
• 到時候／到时候
• 小時候／小时候
• 有時候／有时候
• 這時候／这时候
• 那時候／那时候 (nàshíhòu)
• 黃梅時候／黄梅时候

 

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (時候):

• → Japanese: 時(じ)候(こう) (jikō)
• → Korean: 시후(時候) (sihu)

References

• “Entry #6027”, in 教育部臺灣台語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwan Minnan] (overall work in Mandarin and Hokkien), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2024.

Japanese

Kanji in this term
時	候
じ Grade: 2	こう Grade: 4
on'yomi

Etymology

Appears to be from Middle Chinese 時候 (MC dzyi huwH). The reading is a mix of older goon ji and relatively newer kan'on kō, suggesting a possible shift in reading after borrowing.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) じこー [jìkóó] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [d͡ʑiko̞ː]

Noun

時(じ)候(こう) • (jikō) 

1. the weather or climate of each of the four seasons

References

• Shōgaku Tosho (1988) 国語大辞典（新装版） [Unabridged Dictionary of Japanese (Revised Edition)] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN