什么时候 · 什么样 · 多久
when? · what kind of? · how long?
Structure
什么时候 + 动词 ？ · 什么样 + （的） + 名词 ？ · 动词 + 多久 ？
What it means
Three question words: 什么时候 “when?”, 什么样 “what kind of?”, 多久 “how long?”.
How it is built
Ask in the place where the answer goes: 你什么时候来？— 我明天来。 你住了多久？— 我住了五年。 什么样（的）+ noun: 你喜欢什么样的房子？
When to use it
什么时候 (h2-1) asks for a point in time, so it goes before the verb. 多久 asks for a length of time, so it goes after the verb. 什么样 asks what someone or something is like.
Watch out
✗ 你多久住了？ ✓ 你住了多久？ ✗ 你来什么时候？ ✓ 你什么时候来？
Examples
你什么时候回国？
When are you going back to your country?
你小时候是个什么样的孩子？
What kind of child were you?
你喜欢什么样的房子？
What kind of flat do you like?
你要在北京住多久？
How long are you going to stay in Beijing?
Learn this in HSK 2 · Lesson 21: 小时候 (Childhood)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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