AdverbsHSK 6
Expressing "when the time comes" with 到时候
到时候 (dào shíhòu) is used to refer to 'when the time comes' or 'by then.' It connects a setup statement with the action or situation that will happen at that future point. The pattern is [Setup], 到时候 + [Result]. Be careful not to place 到时候 at the beginning of a sentence without a clear setup.
Structure
……，到时候 + ……
The setup clause sets the context for the future event.
Examples
- 等你来了，到时候我们一起去。Děng nǐ lái le, dào shíhòu wǒmen yìqǐ qù.Wait until you come; when the time comes, we'll go together.
- 我现在不想吃，到时候再说吧。Wǒ xiànzài bù xiǎng chī, dào shíhòu zài shuō ba.I don't want to eat now; let's talk about it when the time comes.
- 你先准备一下，到时候自然就会了。Nǐ xiān zhǔnbèi yīxià, dào shíhòu zìrán jiù huì le.You prepare a bit first; when the time comes naturally you'll know.
- 现在说还太早，到时候你就知道了。Xiànzài shuō hái tài zǎo, dào shíhòu nǐ jiù zhīdào le.It's too early to say now; when the time comes you'll know.
- 别着急，到时候一切都会好起来的。Bié zháojí, dào shíhòu yīqiè dōu huì hǎo qǐlái de.Don't worry; everything will be fine when the time comes.