Talking about time in Chinese isn’t just about knowing the numbers-it’s about grabbing the right words and patterns so you can make plans, share a memory, or just figure out if you’re late. This list hands you around 130 practical time words and expressions, from clock basics to stretches like yesterday, soon, and forever.
We’ve skipped the dusty textbook filler and focused on the vocabulary that shows up in everyday chats, schedules, and stories. Each entry pairs a straightforward meaning with a natural example sentence, so you see exactly how the word behaves in real Chinese.
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Quick Quiz
Think you’ve locked these time words into memory? Give the quiz a spin-no pressure, just a friendly way to spot what’s sticking and what could use a second pass.
Browse the Full List
| Word / Phrase | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 七 | qī | seven; 7 |
| 三 | sān | three; 3 |
| 上 | shàng | on top; upon; above |
| 上午 | shàng wǔ | morning; CL:個|个[gè] |
| 下 | xià | down; downwards; below |
| 下午 | xià wǔ | afternoon; CL:個|个[gè]; p.m. |
| 下雨 | xià yǔ | to rain; rainy |
| 不 | bù | (negative prefix); not; no |
| 不客气 | bù kè qi | you're welcome; impolite; rude |
| 东西 | dōng xi | thing; stuff; person |
| 个 | gè | variant of 個|个[gè] |
| 九 | jiǔ | nine; 9 |
| 书 | shū | book; letter; CL:本 |
| 买 | mǎi | to buy; to purchase |
| 了 | le | (modal particle intensifying preceding clause); (completed action marker) |
| 二 | èr | two; 2; stupid (Beijing dialect) |
| 五 | wǔ | five; 5 |
| 些 | xiē | some; few; several |
| 人 | rén | man; person; people |
| 什么 | shén me | what?; who?; something |
| 今天 | jīn tiān | today; at the present; now |
| 他 | tā | he or him; (used for either sex when the sex is unknown or unimportant); (used before sb's name for emphasis) |
| 会 | huì | can; be possible; be able to |
| 你 | nǐ | you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您) |
| 儿子 | ér zi | son |
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