nashihou: 那时候 - At that time, Back then

• Keywords: na shihou, nà shíhou, 那时候, what does na shihou mean, at that time in Chinese, back then in Chinese, in those days Chinese, Chinese for reminiscing, Chinese time words, how to say then in Chinese, HSK 2 grammar
• Summary: Learn how to use “那时候” (nà shíhou), the essential Chinese phrase for “at that time” or “back then.” This guide explains its meaning, cultural context, and practical usage for storytelling and reminiscing about the past. Perfect for beginner learners, this entry includes a character breakdown, over 10 example sentences, and analysis of common mistakes, such as confusing it with “当时” (dāngshí).

• Pinyin (with tone marks): nà shíhou
• Part of Speech: Time Phrase / Adverbial Phrase
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: A phrase referring to a specific, understood, or previously mentioned time in the past.
• In a Nutshell: “那时候” is your go-to phrase for pointing to a moment on a timeline that has already passed. It's the direct equivalent of saying “at that time,” “back then,” or “in those days” in English. It can refer to a very specific time (like last Tuesday) or a broad era (like your childhood). It's the perfect tool to set the scene for a story or a memory.

• 那 (nà): This is a demonstrative pronoun meaning “that” or “those.” It points to something further away, either in space or, in this case, in time.
• 时 (shí): This character means “time,” “hour,” or “season.” It is a fundamental component of many time-related words like `时间 (shíjiān)` for “time” and `小时 (xiǎoshí)` for “hour.”
• 候 (hòu): On its own, this can mean “to wait.” However, when combined with `时`, it forms the word `时候 (shíhou)`, which means “a point in time” or “a moment.”

Together, a very literal and logical combination emerges: 那 (that) + 时候 (time/moment) = 那时候 (that time / that moment).

While “at that time” is a simple concept, `那时候` is a powerful key that unlocks a very common cultural practice in China: reminiscing about the past to comment on the present. Older generations frequently use `那时候` to introduce stories comparing the hardship of the past with the prosperity of today. A common topic is life before the “Reform and Opening-Up” policy (`改革开放 gǎigé kāifàng`) that began in the late 1970s. You'll often hear sentences starting with, “那时候我们很穷，但是很快乐” (“Back then we were poor, but we were very happy”). This isn't just idle nostalgia. It's a way of expressing core cultural values: appreciating progress, valuing resilience, and teaching the younger generation not to take modern conveniences for granted. While Americans might say “back in my day” to talk about walking to school uphill both ways, the Chinese use of `那时候` is often tied to a specific, dramatic, and collective national transformation that is still within living memory. It connects personal stories to a much larger national narrative.

`那时候` is an incredibly common and versatile phrase used in almost any context, from casual chats to more formal speeches.

• Daily Conversation: It's used constantly to refer to any past moment you and your conversation partner are aware of. For example, if you're talking about a party last weekend, you might say, “那时候你喝多了” (“You drank too much at that time”).
• Storytelling & Reminiscing: This is where `那时候` truly shines. It's the classic way to begin a nostalgic story, setting a warm, reflective tone. “那时候的天空比现在蓝多了” (“The sky was much bluer back then”).
• Formality: The phrase is neutral. It's perfectly fine for both informal chats with friends and more formal situations like a business presentation when referring to a previous fiscal quarter. For extremely formal or literary writing, `那时 (nà shí)` or `当时 (dāngshí)` might be used, but `那时候` is almost always a safe and natural choice.

• Example 1:
  • 我2010年住在北京，那时候我还是一个学生。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ 2010 nián zhù zài Běijīng, nà shíhou wǒ hái shì yí ge xuéshēng.
  • English: I lived in Beijing in 2010, I was still a student at that time.
  • Analysis: This is a classic use, establishing a time frame (2010) and then using `那时候` to describe the state of things within that frame.
• Example 2:
  • 你还记得我们第一次见面的地方吗？那时候天气特别好。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ hái jìde wǒmen dì yī cì jiànmiàn de dìfang ma? Nà shíhou tiānqì tèbié hǎo.
  • English: Do you still remember the place where we first met? The weather was especially good back then.
  • Analysis: Here, `那时候` refers to a specific, shared memory (“the time we first met”), adding a detail to that memory.
• Example 3:
  • 那时候没有智能手机，我们常常给朋友写信。
  • Pinyin: Nà shíhou méiyǒu zhìnéng shǒujī, wǒmen chángcháng gěi péngyou xiě xìn.
  • English: Back then there were no smartphones, so we often wrote letters to friends.
  • Analysis: A perfect example of contrasting the past with the present to evoke a sense of nostalgia.
• Example 4:
  • A: 上个星期我病了。 (Shàng ge xīngqī wǒ bìng le.) - I was sick last week.
  • B: 哦？那时候你为什么不告诉我？ (Ò? Nà shíhou nǐ wèishénme bù gàosù wǒ?) - Oh? Why didn't you tell me at that time?
  • Analysis: In this dialogue, `那时候` clearly refers to the period just mentioned (“last week”).
• Example 5:
  • 我刚来中国的时候，一句中文都不会说。那时候真的很难。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ gāng lái Zhōngguó de shíhou, yí jù Zhōngwén dōu bú huì shuō. Nà shíhou zhēn de hěn nán.
  • English: When I first came to China, I couldn't speak a single sentence of Chinese. It was really difficult back then.
  • Analysis: `那时候` is used to summarize the feeling or condition of a previously described period.
• Example 6:
  • 奶奶说，那时候买一块豆腐都要排很长的队。
  • Pinyin: Nǎinai shuō, nà shíhou mǎi yí kuài dòufu dōu yào pái hěn cháng de duì.
  • English: Grandma says that in those days, you had to wait in a long line just to buy a piece of tofu.
  • Analysis: This exemplifies the cultural use of reminiscing about past hardships to appreciate the present.
• Example 7:
  • 我们小时候住在一个小村子里，那时候的生活很简单。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xiǎo shíhou zhù zài yí ge xiǎo cūnlǐ, nà shíhou de shēnghuó hěn jiǎndān.
  • English: When we were little, we lived in a small village, and life was very simple back then.
  • Analysis: Note the structure `那时候的 + noun` (life back then). This is a very common pattern.
• Example 8:
  • 他去年还在上海工作，那时候他看起来没这么累。
  • Pinyin: Tā qùnián hái zài Shànghǎi gōngzuò, nà shíhou tā kàn qǐlái méi zhème lèi.
  • English: He was still working in Shanghai last year; he didn't seem this tired at that time.
  • Analysis: Used to make a direct comparison between a past state and a present one.
• Example 9:
  • 那时候的电影票比现在便宜多了。
  • Pinyin: Nà shíhou de diànyǐng piào bǐ xiànzài piányi duō le.
  • English: Movie tickets were much cheaper back then than they are now.
  • Analysis: Another direct comparison using the `A 比 B + adj.` structure.
• Example 10:
  • 我记得很清楚，那时候是下午三点，外面突然下起了大雨。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ jìde hěn qīngchu, nà shíhou shì xiàwǔ sān diǎn, wàimiàn tūrán xià qǐ le dàyǔ.
  • English: I remember it clearly, it was three o'clock in the afternoon at that time, and it suddenly started to rain heavily outside.
  • Analysis: This shows `那时候` can refer to a very specific point in time, not just a general era.

• `那时候` (nà shíhou) vs. `当时` (dāngshí)
  • This is the most important distinction. They both mean “at that time,” but `当时 (dāngshí)` is more specific and immediate. It means “at that very moment” or “right then.”
  • `那时候` refers to a general period: “那时候我在上大学，有很多空闲时间。” (Back then I was in college and had a lot of free time.) → Refers to the whole college period.
  • `当时` refers to a specific instant: “他求婚的时候，我太惊讶了，当时一句话也说不出来。” (When he proposed, I was so surprised that I couldn't say a word right at that moment.) → Refers to the specific instant of the proposal.
• `那时候` vs. `然后` (ránhòu)
  • This is a classic beginner mistake based on the English word “then.”
  • `那时候` means “then” in the sense of a past time (“back then”).
  • `然后 (ránhòu)` means “then” in the sense of sequence (“and then,” “afterwards”).
  • Incorrect: 我先回家，那时候给你打电话。 (Wǒ xiān huí jiā, nà shíhou gěi nǐ dǎ diànhuà.)
  • Correct: 我先回家，然后给你打电话。 (Wǒ xiān huí jiā, ránhòu gěi nǐ dǎ diànhuà.) → “I'll go home first, and then I'll call you.”
• Is `那个时候` (nà ge shíhou) the same?
  • Yes, `那时候` and `那个时候` are almost completely interchangeable. Adding `个 (ge)` can make it sound slightly more colloquial or add a tiny bit of emphasis, but there is no significant difference in meaning. You can use either one.

• 当时 (dāngshí) - “At that very moment,” “right then.” More immediate and specific than `那时候`.
• 从前 (cóngqián) - “Once upon a time,” “in the past.” Used for a more distant, often unspecified past, like in a fairy tale.
• 以前 (yǐqián) - “Before,” “previously,” “in the past.” A very general and common term for the past.
• 过去 (guòqù) - “The past” (as a noun). Used to talk about the past as a concept, e.g., `忘记过去` (forget the past).
• 那时 (nà shí) - A more concise, slightly more literary or formal version of `那时候`. Less common in everyday speech.
• 现在 (xiànzài) - “Now.” The direct antonym of past-tense words.
• 以后 (yǐhòu) - “After,” “in the future.” The opposite of `以前`.
• 什么时候 (shénme shíhou) - “When?,” “what time?” The question word that `那时候` answers.