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tiānqì rè de shíhou, tā xǐhuan hē lěng shuǐ, wǒ xǐhuan hē rè chá.

天气tiānqì　热rè　的de　时候shíhou，　她tā　喜欢xǐhuan　喝hē　冷lěng　水shuǐ，　我wǒ　喜欢xǐhuan　喝hē　热rè　茶chá。tiānqì rè de shíhou, tā xǐhuan hē lěng shuǐ, wǒ xǐhuan hē rè chá.
When it’s hot, she likes to drink cold water; I like to drink hot tea.
FromLesson 10inHardcore Chinese
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Questions & Answers about tiānqì rè de shíhou, tā xǐhuan hē lěng shuǐ, wǒ xǐhuan hē rè chá.

What does 的 do in 热的时候?
的 links an attributive clause to a noun. Here, 天气热 (the weather is hot) modifies the noun 时候 (time/moment), so 天气热的时候 means “the time when the weather is hot.” Pattern: clause + 的 + noun, e.g. 我不在家的时候, 你来的时候.
Can I omit 的 and say 天气热时候?

No—without 的 it’s ungrammatical/nonnative. Acceptable alternatives:

  • 天气热的时候 (standard)
  • 天气热时 (more formal/literary)
  • 天热的时候 (colloquial; see below about 天 vs 天气)
Do I need 很 in 天气热的时候?

Not required. In predicate adjective sentences, a degree adverb like 很 often appears, but in the …的时候 structure, 很 is optional:

  • Neutral: 天气热的时候
  • Emphatic: 天气很热的时候, 天气特别热的时候
Could I just say 天气热，她喜欢喝冷水 and drop 的时候?
Yes. 天气热，… works as a general time/cause setting. You can add 就 to highlight the natural response: 天气热，她就喜欢喝冷水.
Why isn’t there a 是 in 天气热的时候?
Chinese adjectives can be predicates without 是. You don’t say 天气是热的时候. Use 是 for identity/classification, not to link adjectives to subjects.
Where can I put the time clause?

Common placements:

  • Fronted (most natural): 天气热的时候，她喜欢喝冷水。
  • Before the verb with 在: 她在天气热的时候喜欢喝冷水。
  • Before the object: 她喜欢在天气热的时候喝冷水。 End-position is possible but marked: 她喜欢喝冷水，在天气热的时候。
What’s the difference among 天气热的时候, 天气热时, and 当天气热的时候?
  • …的时候: neutral, everyday.
  • …时: concise, formal/literary.
  • 当…的时候: adds emphasis on “when.” Some consider 当…的时候 slightly redundant, but it’s very common.
Why 时候 and not 时间?
  • 时候 = a moment/occasion (“when …”). It attaches naturally to clauses with 的: 我到家的时候.
  • 时间 = time as an amount/availability. You don’t say 天气热的时间 to mean “when it’s hot.”
What’s the difference between 冷水, 冰水, and 凉水?
  • 冷水: cold water (feels cold).
  • 冰水: iced water / water with ice; very cold.
  • 凉水: cool water; in some regions (e.g., North China) often means room‑temperature/unheated drinking water.
Why no 的 in 冷水 and 热茶?

Monosyllabic adjectives (like 冷, 热) often modify nouns directly: 冷水, 热茶. Use 的 when:

  • The modifier is polysyllabic: 刚烧开的水, 非常热的茶.
  • You want to emphasize/state a temporary property: 热的茶 (the tea that is hot).
Can I say 热的茶 or 冷的水?
Yes. 热茶/冷水 are a bit tighter; 热的茶/冷的水 slightly highlight the state. When the noun is understood, keep 的 and drop the noun: 她喜欢喝冷的，我喜欢喝热的.
Is 喜欢 + verb phrase (e.g., 喜欢喝冷水) okay? Why not just 喜欢冷水?

Both are fine but differ:

  • 喜欢喝冷水: you like the action of drinking it (habit/preference).
  • 喜欢冷水: you like cold water as a thing/concept; may or may not imply drinking.
Could I use 爱 instead of 喜欢?

Yes, but nuance changes:

  • 喜欢: like, prefer (neutral).
  • 爱: love; sounds stronger or more colloquial in habits: 她爱喝冷水 = “She loves to drink cold water.”
Should I add 就 after the time clause?
Optional. 就 shows a natural or immediate result: 天气热的时候，她就喜欢喝冷水. Without 就, it’s a plain statement of habit.
Do I need a conjunction between the two clauses to show contrast?

Not required, but you can add one to highlight contrast:

  • …，而我喜欢喝热茶。
  • …，我却喜欢喝热茶。
  • …，但是我喜欢喝热茶。
  • …，我则喜欢喝热茶。
Is 在 necessary in 在…的时候?
No. …的时候 is enough. 在…的时候 is also common and a bit heavier/explicit as a time prepositional phrase.
Can I use 天 instead of 天气?

Yes:

  • 天热的时候 (very colloquial)
  • 天气热的时候 (neutral/standard) Also common as a plain predicate: 天热了 = “It has become hot.”
Pronunciation check: tones for key words?
  • 时候: shíhou (2nd tone + neutral)
  • 喜欢: xǐhuan (3rd + neutral)
  • 的: de (neutral)
  • 喝: hē (1st)
  • 冷: lěng (3rd)
  • 热: rè (4th)
  • 茶: chá (2nd)
  • 天气: tiānqì (1st + 4th)
Do I need measure words for water/tea here?

Not when speaking generally. For specific amounts, use a measure word:

  • 一杯热茶 (a cup of hot tea)
  • 一瓶冰水 (a bottle of iced water)
  • 喝一口水 (take a sip of water)
Should I use 喝 or 吃 for beverages?
Use 喝 for liquids you drink: 喝水, 喝茶, 喝汤. 吃 is for foods you chew; it’s not used for water/tea in standard Mandarin.

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