Basic Time Words
In Chinese, basic time words help indicate when an action takes place. Common words include 今天 (jīntiān) for "today," 明天 (míngtiān) for "tomorrow," and 昨天 (zuótiān) for "yesterday." These words are often placed at the beginning or end of a sentence to set the time frame.
我今天去学校。
Wǒ jīntiān qù xuéxiào.
I am going to school today.
她昨天没来。
Tā zuótiān méi lái.
She didn't come yesterday.
我们明天见。
Wǒmen míngtiān jiàn.
We will meet tomorrow.
Time of Day Expressions
Chinese uses specific words to express different parts of the day, such as 早上 (zǎoshang) for "morning," 下午 (xiàwǔ) for "afternoon," and 晚上 (wǎnshàng) for "evening." These expressions often appear before the verb to specify when something happens.
他早上跑步。
Tā zǎoshang pǎobù.
He runs in the morning.
我们下午开会。
Wǒmen xiàwǔ kāihuì.
We have a meeting in the afternoon.
晚上我喜欢看书。
Wǎnshàng wǒ xǐhuān kàn shū.
I like reading books in the evening.
Relative Time Expressions
Relative time expressions refer to actions connected to other time points. Words like 以前 (yǐqián, "before"), 以后 (yǐhòu, "after"), and 正在 (zhèngzài, "currently") are frequently used to describe when an action happens in relation to another event.
我以前住在北京。
Wǒ yǐqián zhù zài Běijīng.
I used to live in Beijing before.
饭后我们去散步。
Fàn hòu wǒmen qù sànbù.
We will take a walk after the meal.
他正在看电视。
Tā zhèngzài kàn diànshì.
He is watching TV right now.
Using 了 and 过 with Time Expressions
The particles 了 (le) and 过 (guo) often appear with time expressions to indicate completion or experience. 了 is used to indicate a completed action, often paired with specific times, while 过 indicates past experience without specifying exact time.
我昨天去了超市。
Wǒ zuótiān qù le chāoshì.
I went to the supermarket yesterday.
我去过中国。
Wǒ qù guo Zhōngguó.
I have been to China.
Here is a simple usage comparison table:
| Particle | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 了 (le) | Completed action at a specific time | 我昨天去了公园。 |
| 过 (guo) | Experience without specific time | 我去过法国。 |
Days, Weeks, and Dates
Chinese expresses days and dates using specific patterns. 星期 (xīngqī) means "week," and is followed by numbers for days of the week. Dates use 年 (nián) for year, 月 (yuè) for month, and 日 (rì) or 号 (hào) for day.
今天是星期三。
Jīntiān shì xīngqī sān.
Today is Wednesday.
我生日是五月十号。
Wǒ shēngrì shì wǔ yuè shí hào.
My birthday is May 10th.
明年我想去旅行。
Míngnián wǒ xiǎng qù lǚxíng.
I want to travel next year.
Time Frequency Adverbs
Frequency adverbs describe how often an action happens. Common adverbs include 常常 (chángcháng) "often," 有时 (yǒushí) "sometimes," and 从来不 (cónglái bù) "never." These words usually appear before the verb.
我常常去图书馆。
Wǒ chángcháng qù túshūguǎn.
I often go to the library.
他有时迟到。
Tā yǒushí chídào.
He is sometimes late.
我从来不喝咖啡。
Wǒ cónglái bù hē kāfēi.
I never drink coffee.
Practice Examples
Try identifying and translating the time expressions in the following sentences. Notice how the placement changes meaning.
他明天去上海。
Tā míngtiān qù Shànghǎi.
He is going to Shanghai tomorrow.
我们晚上吃饭。
Wǒmen wǎnshàng chīfàn.
We eat dinner in the evening.
我去年去了日本。
Wǒ qùnián qù le Rìběn.
I went to Japan last year.
你常常运动吗？
Nǐ chángcháng yùndòng ma?
Do you often exercise?
Tips for Remembering Rules
To master Chinese time expressions, keep these tips in mind:
- Basic time words like 今天, 明天, and 昨天 usually appear at the start or end of a sentence.
- Time of day words such as 早上 and 晚上 come before the verb to specify the time.
- Use 了 after the verb to indicate a completed action at a specific time, and 过 to show past experience.
- Frequency adverbs generally precede the verb and provide context about how often something happens.
- Practice recognizing 星期 + number patterns to tell days of the week.
Regular exposure and practice with real-life examples will help solidify your understanding of Chinese time expressions.