Meaning
有时候 is a common time adverb meaning 'sometimes' or 'occasionally.' It indicates that an action or situation happens irregularly or not all the time. The word combines 有 (to have), 时 (time), and 候 (moment), literally meaning 'there are times when.'
Usage
Native speakers use 有时候 at the beginning or middle of a sentence to indicate occasional frequency. It can be shortened to 有时 in both speech and writing without changing meaning. It's neutral in register and appropriate for all contexts. Often paired with other time expressions like 有时候...有时候... (sometimes...sometimes...) to show alternating situations.
Examples
- 01我有时候骑自行车上班，有时候坐地铁。, .Sometimes I ride my bike to work, sometimes I take the subway.
- 02他有时候很安静，不太爱说话。, .He is sometimes very quiet and doesn't like to talk much.
Characters
Common collocations
- 有时候...有时候...... ...sometimes...sometimes...
- 有的时候sometimes (emphatic form)
Antonyms
Origin
The combination of 时 and 候 together means 'time' or 'moment,' while 有 literally means 'to have,' creating the sense of 'having times when' or 'there are times when.'