How to use 以后、的时候
以后 vs 的时候
以后 places the main event after the situation named before it. It is useful for plans that begin once another event is complete, or changes noticed after an arrival or transition. The reference event establishes an earlier boundary, and the following clause describes a later stage. English may sometimes translate this relationship with “when.”
的时候 instead identifies the time during which an event or state holds. It can refer to an ongoing activity or the occasion of a transition, without inherently saying the main event occurs afterward. Some punctual events allow overlapping translations, so consider the intended sequence carefully. If completion before the next action matters, 以后 expresses that relationship more directly.
Examples with pinyin and English
下飞机以后给我打电话。
Give me a call after you get off the plane.
来中国以后我才发现中国菜那么好吃。
Only when I got to China did I realize how tasty Chinese food is.
毕业以后我打算去上海工作。
I plan to find a job in Shanghai after I graduate.
结婚以后你想继续工作吗？
Do you want to keep working after you get married?
工作的时候不要上网聊天。
Don't chat online when you're at work.
What to remember
- 以后 establishes a later stage.
- 的时候 identifies the relevant occasion or period.
- English “when” can hide this distinction.
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Source and editorial notes
Explanation rewritten for Laowai. Examples are adapted from the Laowai English grammar curriculum, with editorial corrections where needed. The original curriculum credits AllSet Learning’s Chinese Grammar Wiki as used with permission. Read the retained source credits.
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