4.3 Time & Time Words

Time comes before the verb

Chinese time expressions go before the verb (and usually right after the subject): 我明天去 (wǒ míngtiān qù) = I go tomorrow. Never put the time after the verb.

Days and relative time

今天 (jīntiān) = today, 明天 (míngtiān) = tomorrow, 昨天 (zuótiān) = yesterday, 现在 (xiànzài) = now, 以后 (yǐhòu) = afterward.

Telling the clock

点 (diǎn) = o'clock: 三点 (sān diǎn) = 3:00. 分 (fēn) = minutes, 半 (bàn) = half: 两点半 = 2:30. 点钟 (diǎnzhōng) also means o'clock.

Key terms

Time placement

before the verb: 我明天去 (I go tomorrow)

今天 / 明天 / 昨天

jīntiān / míngtiān / zuótiān — today / tomorrow / yesterday

点 / 分 / 半

diǎn / fēn / bàn — o'clock / minute / half

两点半

liǎng diǎn bàn — 2:30

现在 / 以后

xiànzài / yǐhòu — now / afterward

Try an AP-style question

Where do time words usually go in a Chinese sentence?

1. After the object
2. Before the verb
3. Anywhere after the verb
4. At the very end