这时候

这时候 (zhè shí hòu) is an adverb meaning 'at this time' or 'now.' It refers to a specific moment in the present, often used to indicate when something happens in relation to other events.

The character 这 (zhè) means 'this,' 时 (shí) means 'time,' and 候 (hòu) means 'moment' or 'period.' Together, they literally translate to 'this time' or 'this moment,' emphasizing the current point in time.

这时候 is commonly used in daily conversations to highlight the timing of an action or event. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, and it is often paired with verbs to show that something is happening now. For example, it can be used to express that someone is just arriving or that an action is taking place at the present moment.