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.
Tick-tock, language learners — time to make Chinese time words feel easy. Scroll to the bottom of this article for the free printable Chinese time words vocabulary list PDF and the free downloadable printable Chinese time words flashcards, both ready to help you review without the fuss.
Want more than one list? Browse our Chinese section for more Yak Yacker study pages, printable lists, and quiz-friendly review material.
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.
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Browse the Full List
| Word / Phrase | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 很 | hěn | (adverb of degree); quite; very |
| 想 | xiǎng | to think; to believe; to suppose |
| 我 | wǒ | I; me; my |
| 我们 | wǒ men | we; us; ourselves |
| 打电话 | dǎ diàn huà | to make a telephone call |
| 日 | rì | sun; day; date |
| 时候 | shí hou | time; length of time; moment |
| 明天 | míng tiān | tomorrow |
| 星期 | xīng qī | week; CL:個|个[gè]; day of the week |
| 是 | shì | is; are; am |
| 朋友 | péng you | friend; CL:個|个; 位[wèi] |
| 本 | běn | roots or stems of plants; origin; source |
| 来 | lái | to come; to arrive; to come round |
| 杯子 | bēi zi | cup; glass; CL:個|个 |
| 水 | shuǐ | water; river; liquid |
| 水果 | shuǐ guǒ | fruit; CL:個|个[gè] |
| 汉语 | Hàn yǔ | Chinese language; CL:門|门[mén] |
| 没 | méi | (negative prefix for verbs); have not; not |
| 没关系 | méi guān xi | it doesn't matter |
| 漂亮 | piào liang | pretty; beautiful |
| 火车站 | huǒ chē zhàn | train station |
| 点 | diǎn | point; dot; drop |
| 热 | rè | to warm up; to heat up; hot (of weather) |
| 爱 | ài | to love; affection; to be fond of |
| 爸爸 | bà ba | (informal) father; CL:個|个; 位[wèi] |
