有时候...
Reach for this when you want to say something happens 'sometimes' — not always, not never, but on certain occasions. Drop it at the start of the sentence and the rest describes what occasionally happens. Conversational, slightly reflective tone. Often pairs with a second 有时候 to contrast two recurring situations ('sometimes A, sometimes B'). Very common when describing habits, weather, moods.
Structure
有时候 [SITUATION]
yǒu shíhou...
How to Think About It
有时候 literally is '(there are) times,' which is exactly what it does — it carves out 'some occasions' from the flow of time. Put it before the subject (有时候我会迟到) or after the subject (我有时候会迟到), both work, the meaning is the same. Choose whichever flows better. Compare with 偶尔 (rarely/occasionally) — 有时候 is more frequent than 偶尔.
Examples
有时候我会忘记带钥匙。
Yǒu shíhou wǒ huì wàngjì dài yàoshi.
Sometimes I forget to bring my keys.
他有时候很安静，有时候很爱说话。
Tā yǒu shíhou hěn ānjìng, yǒu shíhou hěn ài shuōhuà.
Sometimes he's very quiet, sometimes very talkative.
有时候，最简单的答案才是对的。
Yǒu shíhou, zuì jiǎndān de dá'àn cái shì duì de.
Sometimes the simplest answer is the right one.
Common Mistake
Learners use 有时候 for events that happened once in the past ('sometimes yesterday I felt tired') — but 有时候 describes a recurring pattern, not a single occasion. For one-off past events, just say 那时候 or use a time phrase.
昨天有时候我很累。
昨天下午我很累。
Don't Confuse With
偶尔
偶尔 means 'rarely, once in a while' — less frequent than 有时候. Use 偶尔 when the event is uncommon, 有时候 when it's a familiar recurring thing.
经常
经常 = 'often.' 有时候 = 'sometimes.' On the frequency line: 总是 > 经常 > 有时候 > 偶尔 > 从来不.
时候
Standalone 时候 means 'time/when,' usually inside a 的时候 clause. 有时候 is the fixed adverb 'sometimes' — different role.
Practice
___ 我会一个人去看电影。
Show answer
有时候
他工作很忙，___ 周末也加班。
Show answer
有时候
Arrange: 我 / 中文 / 在家 / 听 / 有时候 / 播客
Show answer
我有时候在家听中文播客。
Sometimes I cook at home, sometimes I eat out.
Show answer
我有时候在家做饭，有时候在外面吃。
Use 有时候 to describe a habit you have.
Show answer
有时候我晚上睡不着，就听一些轻音乐。