Example communication methods and apparatus are described. One example method includes: when a terminal side device determines that first downlink control information (DCI) meets a first condition, the terminal side device uses a quantity of physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) candidates that are located in a first time unit and that are in a search space set corresponding to the first DCI as a first quantity of times of monitoring. In the first time unit, the terminal side device monitors, in the search space set corresponding to the first DCI based on the first quantity of times of monitoring, a PDCCH carrying the first DCI.