时候

Etymology & Components

The Chinese word 时候 (shíhou) is a compound word consisting of two characters: 时 (shí) and 候 (hòu). The character 时 originally meant "sun" or "time", and was later extended to mean "season" or "opportunity". The character 候 originally meant "to wait" or "to expect", and was later extended to mean "time" or "moment". When combined, the two characters 时 and 候 form the word 时候, which means "time" or "moment".The word 时候 can be used in a variety of contexts. For example, it can be used to refer to the time of day, the time of year, or the time of an event. It can also be used to refer to a person's age or the time that has passed since an event.The word 时候 is a common word in Chinese, and it is important for HSK learners to understand its meaning and usage. By understanding the etymology of the word 时候, HSK learners can better understand its meaning and how it is used in different contexts.