Chinese Language Stack Exchange
Chinese Language Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [time]

For questions relating to time in Chinese

This tag is for questions relating to time in Chinese and its topolects:

  • telling time
  • time complements
  • words used to express chronological order of actions in a sentence (以前 / 以后，先 / 后，同时，的时候，etc.) and related grammar rules

If your question is about representation of time with calendars (日历), the lunar calendar (农历), heavenly stems (天干) or earthly branches (地支), please consider using [calendar] or [culture] instead, as appropriate.

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Is 下个星期三 (xiàge xīngqīsān) = "next Wednesday" ambiguous like in English?

In English, we tend to avoid saying "next Wednesday", etc., because it's ambiguous. It humorously arises in a Seinfeld quote: Sid: No, next Wednesday, [the] week after this Wednesday. Jerry: But the Wednesday two days from now is the next…
Becky 李蓓
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I am confused by how time is discussed in Chinese,

Ok so let me start with some examples: xia ci 下次 (next time) is "down time". so... down = future? shang ci 上次(last time) is "up time" so... up = past? hou 后 (back) also often refers to future so... back = future? qian 前 (forward) also often refers…
Clancy
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Why is 刻 used to mean ''a quarter of an hour''?

刻 means ''to carve'' but my dictionary also says it means ''to set a time limit''. What is the connection between 刻 and a quarter of an hour ?
Kantura
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Does 兩點九 mean 2:09 or 2:45?

I heard somebody using 兩點九 and I thought he means 2:09. Actually, by 兩點九 he means 兩點九個字, or 2:45. Does 兩點九 have two different meanings? Or does it always mean 2:45?
Zuriel
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How exactly do time and "tense" work in Mandarin REALLY?

I am trying to figure out what the most proper way for one to say something simple like if someone asked, "How do you know that?" and then I say, "I read it in a book". Now what I'm wondering about is how you translate that "I read a book" clause…
The_Sympathizer
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这就是台湾，这才是台湾. Cracking the 就 again

Many moons of my struggle with 就 and 就是 maybe finally over. But still I need help from natives and others. There is a book out there with a title: "这就是台湾，这才是台湾" Once I saw that phrase I thought that I have a key for cracking the 就 thing. I,…
coobit
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What's the amount of time in 足足有一刻钟，简默的脸上现出了惊喜和迷惑?

足足有一刻钟，简默的脸上现出了惊喜和迷惑。 It is less than a quarter of an hour, or a full quarter of an hour, or what amount of time is being talked about here?
Sam
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Can I split up time phrases and adverbs?

If there is more than one part to a time phrase (e.g. both 今天 and 八点) can I place one of them before the subject and one after? Is there any situation in which this would be okay? 他今天八点要去看电影 (not split) vs. 今天他八点要去看电影 (split) On a similar note, if…
Dianne Starkey
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What's the difference between 秒钟 and 秒?

Both of them seem to mean a second, according to both wiktionary and linedict. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/秒钟#Chinese https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/秒 http://ce.linedict.com/dict.html#/cnen/entry/b90b963dcf6f45cead8a742525cd059f
marmistrz
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How can I negate time and when to place 在 before time?

I know we can negate place, manner, etc. by just placing a 不 before the verbs (prepositions) that introduce the clauses. 我不在中国工作。 他不坐车去工作。 But how can I negate time, since it doesn't have a verb/preposition before it? For example: I wake up not at…
Enrico Brasil
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What are the rules surrounding word order when talking about time (e.g. are 八点钟我想吃早饭 or 我想今天吃早饭 okay)?

During my time learning Chinese, I've heard two distinct word orders when referencing the time at which something will occur. For example, I was taught to say 今天我想吃早饭 to talk about 今天, 明天, etc, but I was taught to say 我想八点钟吃早饭 when speaking about a…
八带永
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Why add 左右 ("approximately") to the precisely stated time 25日17时15分左右?

当地时间25日17时15分左右，…… I was reading a newspaper, and stumbled upon the above. I'm puzzled as to why someone would state a time as precisely as 25日17时15分 then add 左右 (= "approximately") afterwards. I'm wondering if the author is just exceptionally…
Becky 李蓓
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Should words like 一般 or 平时 be put before or after the time reference?

So, for example, I want to ask — When do you usually do your homework? Should it be 你什么时候（一般/平时）做作业 or 你（平时/一般）什么时候做作业 Crucially, I'd like to know why should it be done the way it should be.
Simullacra
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What's the difference between 后 and 以后?

I was taught that so as to say "after" in Chinese one should use 以后, like this: 吃饭以后 Today I came across a bare 后, like this: 15分钟后 What's the difference between these two words?
marmistrz
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Telling time: 零两分 vs 零二分

I want to say that it's 12:02 p.m. Which of the following (or none) is correct and why? 现在中午十二点零两分 or 现在中午十二点零二分
Michal Rosenbaum
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