1 · 40 words

Clock and calendar

Telling the time, the days of the week, dates and the parts of the day.

The calendar is counted rather than named: Monday is 星期一(xīngqīyī), “week one”, and March is 三月(sānyuè), “month three”. Dates and times go from the largest unit to the smallest — year, month, day, then the part of the day, then the hour — and they stand before the verb, not at the end of the sentence: 我(wǒ)明天(míngtiān)下午(xiàwǔ)三(sān)点(diǎn)去(qù).

The words

Noun (9)

钟(zhōng)clock; o'clockNoun1

现在(xiànzài)是(shì)五(wǔ)点(diǎn)钟(zhōng)。It's five o'clock.

After a full hour 钟(zhōng) may be added or left out.

星期(xīngqī)weekNoun1

下(xià)个(ge)星期(xīngqī)我(wǒ)去(qù)北京(Běijīng)。I'm going to Beijing next week.

年(nián)yearNoun1

我(wǒ)在(zài)中国(Zhōngguó)住(zhù)了(le)一(yì)年(nián)。I lived in China for a year.

Counted without a measure word: 一(yì)年(nián).

月(yuè)month; moonNoun1

他(tā)一(yí)个(ge)月(yuè)回(huí)一(yí)次(cì)家(jiā)。He goes home once a month.

A month is 一(yí)个(ge)月(yuè); 一月(yīyuè) is January.

日(rì)day of the month (written)Noun1

今天(jīntiān)是(shì)六月(liùyuè)八(bā)日(rì)。Today is the eighth of June.

In speech the date is 号(hào).

号(hào)day of the month; numberNoun1

我(wǒ)十五(shíwǔ)号(hào)回国(huíguó)。I'm going home on the fifteenth.

Also a number in a series: a room, a bus, a house.

天(tiān)dayNoun1

我(wǒ)在(zài)这儿(zhèr)住(zhù)三(sān)天(tiān)。I'm staying here for three days.

Counted without a measure word: 三(sān)天(tiān).

生日(shēngrì)birthdayNoun1

你(nǐ)的(de)生日(shēngrì)是(shì)几(jǐ)月(yuè)几(jǐ)号(hào)？When is your birthday?

新年(xīnnián)New YearNoun1

新年(xīnnián)你(nǐ)回家(huíjiā)吗(ma)？Are you going home for the New Year?

Numeral (1)

半(bàn)half; half pastNumeral1

电影(diànyǐng)八(bā)点(diǎn)半(bàn)开始(kāishǐ)。The film starts at half past eight.

Phrase (4)

上个月(shànggeyuè)last monthPhrase1

我(wǒ)上个月(shànggeyuè)去(qù)了(le)上海(Shànghǎi)。I went to Shanghai last month.

Next month is 下个月(xiàgeyuè); with 星期(xīngqī) the same: 上个星期(shànggexīngqī).

几点(jǐdiǎn)what timePhrase1

你(nǐ)明天(míngtiān)几点(jǐdiǎn)来(lái)？What time are you coming tomorrow?

星期几(xīngqījǐ)what day of the weekPhrase1

今天(jīntiān)星期几(xīngqījǐ)？What day is it today?

几号(jǐhào)what datePhrase1

你(nǐ)几号(jǐhào)回来(huílai)？What date are you coming back?

Measure word (3)

点(diǎn)o'clockMeasure word1

商店(shāngdiàn)十(shí)点(diǎn)开门(kāimén)。The shop opens at ten.

分(fēn)minute (on the clock)Measure word1

现在(xiànzài)是(shì)三(sān)点(diǎn)十(shí)分(fēn)。It's ten past three.

For a length of time say 分钟(fēnzhōng).

刻(kè)quarter of an hourMeasure word1

我们(wǒmen)九(jiǔ)点(diǎn)一(yí)刻(kè)见(jiàn)。Let's meet at a quarter past nine.

A quarter to is 差(chà)一(yí)刻(kè): 差(chà)一(yí)刻(kè)十(shí)点(diǎn).

Time word (23)

星期一(xīngqīyī)MondayTime word1

星期一(xīngqīyī)我(wǒ)很(hěn)忙(máng)。I'm busy on Monday.

星期二(xīngqī'èr)TuesdayTime word1

我们(wǒmen)星期二(xīngqī'èr)有(yǒu)汉语(Hànyǔ)课(kè)。We have a Chinese lesson on Tuesday.

星期三(xīngqīsān)WednesdayTime word1

星期三(xīngqīsān)下午(xiàwǔ)你(nǐ)有(yǒu)空(kòng)吗(ma)？Are you free on Wednesday afternoon?

星期四(xīngqīsì)ThursdayTime word1

星期四(xīngqīsì)晚上(wǎnshang)我(wǒ)在(zài)家(jiā)。I'm at home on Thursday evening.

星期五(xīngqīwǔ)FridayTime word1

今天(jīntiān)是(shì)星期五(xīngqīwǔ)，太(tài)好(hǎo)了(le)！It's Friday today — great!

星期六(xīngqīliù)SaturdayTime word1

星期六(xīngqīliù)我(wǒ)不(bú)上班(shàngbān)。I don't work on Saturdays.

星期天(xīngqītiān)SundayTime word1

星期天(xīngqītiān)我(wǒ)在(zài)家(jiā)休息(xiūxi)。On Sundays I rest at home.

The everyday word; 星期日(xīngqīrì) is the written one.

星期日(xīngqīrì)Sunday (written)Time word1

星期日(xīngqīrì)银行(yínháng)不(bù)开门(kāimén)。The bank is closed on Sundays.

The form on calendars, timetables and notices.

今天(jīntiān)todayTime word1

今天(jīntiān)我(wǒ)不(bù)想(xiǎng)出去(chūqu)。I don't feel like going out today.

明天(míngtiān)tomorrowTime word1

明天(míngtiān)我(wǒ)请(qǐng)你(nǐ)吃饭(chīfàn)。I'll treat you to a meal tomorrow.

昨天(zuótiān)yesterdayTime word1

昨天(zuótiān)我(wǒ)没(méi)去(qù)学校(xuéxiào)。I didn't go to school yesterday.

前天(qiántiān)the day before yesterdayTime word1

他(tā)前天(qiántiān)来(lái)我(wǒ)家(jiā)了(le)。He came to my place the day before yesterday.

后天(hòutiān)the day after tomorrowTime word1

后天(hòutiān)是(shì)我(wǒ)的(de)生日(shēngrì)。The day after tomorrow is my birthday.

今年(jīnnián)this yearTime word1

我(wǒ)女儿(nǚ'ér)今年(jīnnián)上(shàng)大学(dàxué)。My daughter starts university this year.

明年(míngnián)next yearTime word1

明年(míngnián)我(wǒ)想(xiǎng)去(qù)中国(Zhōngguó)。I'd like to go to China next year.

去年(qùnián)last yearTime word1

去年(qùnián)我(wǒ)住(zhù)在(zài)上海(Shànghǎi)。Last year I lived in Shanghai.

早上(zǎoshang)(early) morningTime word1

早上(zǎoshang)我(wǒ)六(liù)点(diǎn)起床(qǐchuáng)。I get up at six in the morning.

上午(shàngwǔ)morning (until noon)Time word1

我(wǒ)上午(shàngwǔ)有(yǒu)课(kè)。I have lessons in the morning.

The working morning; 早上(zǎoshang) is the early part of it.

中午(zhōngwǔ)noon; middayTime word1

中午(zhōngwǔ)我们(wǒmen)一起(yìqǐ)吃饭(chīfàn)吧(ba)。Let's have lunch together at midday.

下午(xiàwǔ)afternoonTime word1

下午(xiàwǔ)三(sān)点(diǎn)我(wǒ)去(qù)银行(yínháng)。I'm going to the bank at three in the afternoon.

晚上(wǎnshang)evening; nightTime word1

我(wǒ)晚上(wǎnshang)十一(shíyī)点(diǎn)睡觉(shuìjiào)。I go to bed at eleven at night.

今晚(jīnwǎn)tonightTime word1

今晚(jīnwǎn)你(nǐ)想(xiǎng)吃(chī)什么(shénme)？What would you like to eat tonight?

一月(yīyuè)JanuaryTime word1

北京(Běijīng)一月(yīyuè)很(hěn)冷(lěng)。Beijing is very cold in January.

The months are numbered, 一月(yīyuè) to 十二月(shí'èryuè); 一(yī) keeps its own tone here.

This list belongs to Basic words: numbers, time, verbs — 21 lists and 842 words that can also be practised as a whole.

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