到時

By Then/when the Time Comes

Level 3Sounds Like dou3 si4

到時 (dou3 si4) is the standard way to say 'then' or 'when the time comes' in future contexts. It is often used to postpone decisions or describe events that will happen once a certain time is reached.

How It Works

The expression 到時 (dou3 si4) is a compound of 到 (dou3, to arrive/reach) and 時 (si4, time).

1. Tense Restriction
A critical rule for 到時 as a standalone time adverb is that it is primarily used for future events (or future relative to a past plan), translating to 'by then' or 'when the time comes'. If you are talking about a simple 'then' in the past, you should typically use 嗰時 (go2 si4 / go2 si2), 嗰陣 (go2 zan6), 嗰陣時 (go2 zan6 si4), or 當時 (dong1 si4). Note: You might see the characters 到時 in past-tense sentences meaning 'when [someone] arrived' (e.g., 我尋日去到時... - 'When I arrived yesterday...'), but this is a combination of 到 (arrive) and 時 (time), not the adverb 'by then'.

2. Delaying Actions with 再/先
A highly productive structure for delaying an action is 到時 + 再/先 + verb. This means 'we will [verb] when the time comes'.

  • 到時再講 (dou3 si4 zoi3 gong2): We'll talk about it then.
  • 到時先算 (dou3 si4 sin1 syun3): We'll deal with it when the time comes / let's wait and see.

3. Common Phrases and Variants

  • 到時見 (dou3 si4 gin3): 'See you then.' This is arguably the single most common standalone phrase using this vocabulary word, used to end a conversation when a future meeting time has been agreed upon.
  • 到嗰時 (dou3 go2 si4) / 到嗰陣 (dou3 go2 zan6): Very common, everyday spoken Cantonese expansions meaning 'by that time'.
  • 到時候 (dou3 si4 hau6): An interchangeable variant that is slightly more complete.
  • 到其時 (dou3 kei4 si4): Another common variant meaning 'by that time' or 'when that time comes'.
  • 到時到候 (dou3 si4 dou3 hau6): A four-character idiom meaning 'at the appointed time' or 'when the regular time comes'.

4. Warnings and Consequences
到時 is frequently used to issue warnings or predict future regret, meaning 'when that happens (you'll see/be sorry)'.

  • 到時你就知 (dou3 si4 nei5 zau6 zi1): You'll find out when the time comes.
  • 到時唔好怪我 (dou3 si4 m4 hou2 gwaai3 ngo5): Don't blame me when that happens.

5. Sentence Position
Following standard Cantonese word order, 到時 must appear before the verb. It can be placed:

  • At the very beginning of the sentence: 到時話你知。 (dou3 si4 waa6 nei5 zi1 - When the time comes, I'll let you know.)
  • After the subject: 我到時話你知。 (ngo5 dou3 si4 waa6 nei5 zi1 - I'll let you know then.)

6. Register
到時 is standard, everyday vocabulary used naturally in both spoken and written contexts. In highly formal writing or speeches, you might encounter the literary equivalent 屆時 (gaai3 si4) instead.

Examples (4)

  1. 到時見。

    See you then.

    Word by Word: Reach time see.

    A very common way to end a conversation when a future meeting time has been agreed upon.

  2. 到時先算啦。

    Let's decide when the time comes.

    Word by Word: Reach time first calculate [particle].

    A common idiom used to postpone making a decision until the future.

  3. 而家講定都冇用，到時你就知㗎喇。

    It's no use telling you now; you'll understand when the time comes.

    Word by Word: Now speak in-advance also no use, reach time you then know [particle] [particle].

    Here, 'dou3 si4' anchors the realization to a future point.

  4. 我到時會打畀你。

    I will call you then.

    Word by Word: I reach time will hit give you.

    Shows the placement of 'dou3 si4' after the subject and before the verb phrase.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'dou3 si4' for simple past events.

    尋日我喺公園，到時落雨。
    尋日我喺公園，嗰陣落雨。

    In English, 'then' works for both past and future. In Cantonese, 'dou3 si4' (到時) is primarily for the future (or future relative to a past plan). For a simple past event, use 'go2 zan6' (嗰陣) or 'go2 si4' (嗰時) to mean 'at that time'.

  • Placing 'dou3 si4' at the end of the sentence.

    我會話你知到時。
    我到時會話你知。

    Time adverbs in Cantonese must come before the verb, never at the end of the sentence like in English.

How It Connects

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到時Level 3By Then/when the Time Comes

Learn This First

To understand '到時' (by then/when the time comes), you need to be familiar with how Cantonese marks specific points in time using '時' and how the verb '到' functions as a marker for reaching a destination or temporal endpoint.

Words in This Pattern

到时