那时 (nà shí) vs 那个时候 (nàgè shíhòu) — use 那时候 for a more conversational tone and emphasis on the specific period.

Imagine a clock pointing to a specific time in the past, with '那' (nà) picturing a person pointing at the clock and saying 'that time.' The '时候' (shíhou) can be visualized as a calendar page flipping to that specific moment, helping you remember its meaning as 'time.'

Be careful not to confuse '那时候' with '现在' (xiànzài, now) or '将来' (jiānglái, future). It is more informal and common in spoken language. A common collocation is '在那时候' (zài nà shíhou), meaning 'at that time.'

Although not specifically listed in HSK levels, '那时候' is useful for learners around HSK 3-4, where discussing past events becomes more common. Focus on using it in sentences to describe past experiences.

In Chinese culture, discussing the past is significant, often linked to nostalgia or sharing life lessons during gatherings. '那时候' is a phrase that can evoke memories of significant historical events or personal stories.

Learners often mistakenly say '那时候' when they mean '现在' (now). For example, saying '那时候我在家' (nà shíhou wǒ zài jiā) to mean 'now I am at home' is incorrect; you should use '现在我在家' instead.