<p>First, you can either use "ni3 shen2 me shi2 jian1 chi1" or "ni3 shen2 me shi2 hou4 chi1".</p>

<p>Second, "时候" and "时间" are both used to represent some time instant, and "时候" is used more often than "时间" when referring some time instant.</p>

<p>When you are referring to the quality of some time period, you would use "时间". 
For example, "ni3 chi1 duo2 chang2 shi2 jian1" means "How long do you eat?"</p>

<p>When you are referring to some long time period, especially some time period a long long time ago, you would use "时候". For example, "zai4 tang2 chao2 de shi2 hou4,..." means "in Tang dynasty, ...".</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-15T07:07:30.103Z
nice answer pomelo
Agoeng Liu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-15T06:27:55.710Z
2014-07-15T08:36:30.797Z
2014-07-15T08:36:30.797Z
William Wu
<p>你什么时候吃饭 (<em>ni3 shen2 me shi2 hou4 chi1 fan4</em>) - eat food</p>

<p>你什么时候回家 (<em>ni3 shen2 me shi2 hou4 hui2 jia1</em>) - go home</p>

<p>你什么时候 (<em>ni3 shen2 me shi2 hou4</em>) can be understood as: "to do what" -> at 什么时候 (<em>"shen2 me shi2 hou4"</em>), 你 (<em>"ni3"</em>) do what</p>

<p>Generally, we use 时候 (<em>"shi2 hou4"</em>) most of the time.</p>

<hr>

<p>现在什么时间 (<em>xian4 zai4 shen2 me shi2 jian1</em>) - What's the time?</p>

<p>时间 (<em>"shi2 jian1"</em>) is just used in the scenario when you want to know the exact time.</p>

<p>时间不够了 (<em>shi2 jian1 bu2 gou4 le1</em>) - the time is not enough</p>

<p>In my opinion, 时间 (<em>"shi2 jian1"</em>) is used as noun at most time.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-15T11:30:51.983Z
Can you please make your answer clearer?
Mou某
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-16T02:03:46.117Z
It doesn't work when I insert the <br /> or two spaces        ... The formatter doesn't work.   https://chinese.stackexchange.com/editing-help#comment-formatting
Sunni Sun
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-16T02:10:17.337Z
Test if the <br/> works.   <br/>test   this doesn't work, I don't know why.  I want to format my comments...
Sunni Sun
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-24T08:18:08.213Z
<br /> Workes with two space after every sentence. Now I have got the markdown skill. cool!
Sunni Sun
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-15T11:11:17.440Z
2016-03-22T23:08:31.990Z
2016-03-22T23:08:31.990Z
Sunni Sun
<p><strong>Tuttle Learners</strong></p>

<p>时间</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>a period of time</p>
  
  <p>时间不够, 我没做完那道练习。  </p>
  
  <p>Shíjiān bú gòu, wǒ méi zuòwán nà dào liànxí. As there</p>
  
  <p>wasn't enough time, I did not finish that exercise.</p>
  
  <p>我没有时间写信。  </p>
  
  <p>Wǒ méiyǒu shíjiān xiě xìn. </p>
  
  <p>I don't have time to write letters.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>时候</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>[compound: 时 time + 候 a certain point in time]
  NOUN a certain point in time, (the time) when</p>
  
  <p>飞机什么时候开？  </p>
  
  <p>Fēijī shénme shíhou kāi? When will the plane depart?</p>
  
  <p>他来的时候, 我正在打电话。  </p>
  
  <p>Tā lái de shíhou, wǒ zhèngzài dǎ diànhuà. </p>
  
  <p>I was on the phone when he came.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>时候 = time in general (what time does something happen, times up, duration of time).</p>

<p>什么时候 can even be translated directly as <em>when</em> in English.</p>

<p>时间 ＝ THE time (like; what's THE time, THE time in Beijing is..., I didn't have THE time).</p>

<p>什么时间, on the other hand, is seldom used.</p>

<hr>

<p>The sentence you gave up top, <em>ni3 chi1 shen2me shi2jian1</em>, is like writing "You eat what the time?"</p>

<p>What you want to say is something like: <em>你什么时候吃饭</em></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-15T07:08:12.247Z
nice answer !! I understand now..
Agoeng Liu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-15T09:39:22.723Z
This answer is clear and correct, indeed. But when you want to ask about some past event very formally or accurately, you'd better use 时间. E.g., 你（是）（在）什么时间吃的饭？ This is especially suitable for interrogation.
xiaohuamao
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-15T06:18:45.813Z
2014-07-15T08:27:37.847Z
2014-07-15T08:27:37.847Z
Mou某
<p>When I want ask someone <em>When will you eat?</em>, can I use 你吃什么时间 (<em>ni3 chi1 shen2me shi2jian1</em>)?</p>

<p>I used to see sentences using 时候 to ask for the time. What is the difference?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-15T06:19:50.537Z
"ni3 chi1 shen2me shi2jian1" (你吃什么时间) is unintelligible. Use "你什么 时候/时间 去吃饭", both 时候 and 时间 are OK here. 时间 would sound more accurate for asking the exact time, to some extent -- like "what time will you eat" in English.
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-15T07:08:45.343Z
I mean like you, wrong type.
Agoeng Liu
<difference>
What is the difference between 时候 and 时间?
# What is the difference between 时候 and 时间?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-07-15)

When I want ask someone *When will you eat?*, can I use 你吃什么时间 (*ni3 chi1 shen2me shi2jian1*)?

I used to see sentences using 时候 to ask for the time. What is the difference?

**Tags:** difference
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: "ni3 chi1 shen2me shi2jian1" (你吃什么时间) is unintelligible. Use "你什么 时候/时间 去吃饭", both 时候 and 时间 are OK here. 时间 would sound more accurate for asking the exact time, to some extent -- like "what time will you eat" in English.  
> **username_0**: I mean like you, wrong type.  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2014-07-15. Score: 13 | Accepted answer

**Tuttle Learners**

时间

> a period of time
>
> 时间不够, 我没做完那道练习。
>
> Shíjiān bú gòu, wǒ méi zuòwán nà dào liànxí. As there
>
> wasn't enough time, I did not finish that exercise.
>
> 我没有时间写信。
>
> Wǒ méiyǒu shíjiān xiě xìn.
>
> I don't have time to write letters.

时候

> [compound: 时 time + 候 a certain point in time]
> NOUN a certain point in time, (the time) when
>
> 飞机什么时候开？
>
> Fēijī shénme shíhou kāi? When will the plane depart?
>
> 他来的时候, 我正在打电话。
>
> Tā lái de shíhou, wǒ zhèngzài dǎ diànhuà.
>
> I was on the phone when he came.

时候 = time in general (what time does something happen, times up, duration of time).

什么时候 can even be translated directly as *when* in English.

时间 ＝ THE time (like; what's THE time, THE time in Beijing is..., I didn't have THE time).

什么时间, on the other hand, is seldom used.

---

The sentence you gave up top, *ni3 chi1 shen2me shi2jian1*, is like writing "You eat what the time?"

What you want to say is something like: *你什么时候吃饭*

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: nice answer !! I understand now..  
> **username_5**: This answer is clear and correct, indeed. But when you want to ask about some past event very formally or accurately, you'd better use 时间. E.g., 你（是）（在）什么时间吃的饭？ This is especially suitable for interrogation.  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-07-15. Score: 2

First, you can either use "ni3 shen2 me shi2 jian1 chi1" or "ni3 shen2 me shi2 hou4 chi1".

Second, "时候" and "时间" are both used to represent some time instant, and "时候" is used more often than "时间" when referring some time instant.

When you are referring to the quality of some time period, you would use "时间".
For example, "ni3 chi1 duo2 chang2 shi2 jian1" means "How long do you eat?"

When you are referring to some long time period, especially some time period a long long time ago, you would use "时候". For example, "zai4 tang2 chao2 de shi2 hou4,..." means "in Tang dynasty, ...".

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: nice answer pomelo  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2014-07-15. Score: 1

你什么时候吃饭 (*ni3 shen2 me shi2 hou4 chi1 fan4*) - eat food

你什么时候回家 (*ni3 shen2 me shi2 hou4 hui2 jia1*) - go home

你什么时候 (*ni3 shen2 me shi2 hou4*) can be understood as: "to do what" -> at 什么时候 (*"shen2 me shi2 hou4"*), 你 (*"ni3"*) do what

Generally, we use 时候 (*"shi2 hou4"*) most of the time.

---

现在什么时间 (*xian4 zai4 shen2 me shi2 jian1*) - What's the time?

时间 (*"shi2 jian1"*) is just used in the scenario when you want to know the exact time.

时间不够了 (*shi2 jian1 bu2 gou4 le1*) - the time is not enough

In my opinion, 时间 (*"shi2 jian1"*) is used as noun at most time.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: Can you please make your answer clearer?  
> **username_3**: It doesn't work when I insert the <br /> or two spaces        ... The formatter doesn't work.   https://chinese.stackexchange.com/editing-help#comment-formatting  
> **username_3**: Test if the <br/> works.   <br/>test   this doesn't work, I don't know why.  I want to format my comments...  
> **username_3**: <br /> Workes with two space after every sentence. Now I have got the markdown skill. cool!  

---

