Simplified Chinese - Daily Routine

Lesson 60 of 156

A person checking their watch and phone with Simplified Chinese text about daily routine times written nearby.

Goal: Talk about when and how you usually do things

Free Simplified Chinese lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Ready to describe your day like a local? This short lesson focuses on natural ways to say when you do things, what you do before or after events, and how long activities take. Have fun — repeat the phrases aloud and imagine your own routine.

Level A2: In this lesson you'll practice useful daily-routine frames for saying what you usually do and when — for example, asking “你通常几点___？” and answering with times, saying what happens before or after something, and talking about busy periods and duration. CEFR-aligned, practical, and full of sentences you can use tomorrow morning.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Practice asking and answering routine time questions like 你通常几点___？ (Nǐ tōngcháng jǐ diǎn ___?)
  • Describe sequences: ___之后，我通常___。 (___ zhīhòu, wǒ tōngcháng ___.) and 我___，在___之前。 (Wǒ ___, zài ___ zhīqián.)
  • Say when you leave home, when your alarm rings, and how long activities take.
  • Use weekly/time expressions: ___我通常___。 (___ wǒ tōngcháng ___.) and 我从___到___都很忙。 (Wǒ cóng ___ dào ___ dōu hěn máng.)
A cozy kitchen scene showing morning actions (alarm clock, coffee) with Simplified Chinese labels about routines.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

我通常___，是在___。

Wǒ tōngcháng ___, shì zài ___.

I usually ___ at ___.

Meaning: I usually ___ at ___.

When to use: Describe a regular action and the time you do it (action first, time second).

我通常吃早饭，是在七点半。

Wǒ tōngcháng chī zǎofàn, shì zài qī diǎn bàn.

I usually eat breakfast at 7:30.
我通常看新闻，是在晚上九点。

Wǒ tōngcháng kàn xīnwén, shì zài wǎnshàng jiǔ diǎn.

I usually watch the news at 9 PM.

你通常几点___？

Nǐ tōngcháng jǐ diǎn ___?

What time do you usually ___?

Meaning: What time do you usually ___?

When to use: Ask about the usual time someone does an everyday action.

你通常几点吃午饭？

Nǐ tōngcháng jǐ diǎn chī wǔfàn?

What time do you usually eat lunch?
你通常几点下班？

Nǐ tōngcháng jǐ diǎn xiàbān?

What time do you usually finish work?

我___，在___之前。

Wǒ ___, zài ___ zhīqián.

I ___ before ___.

Meaning: I ___ before ___.

When to use: Say that you do one thing before another part of the day or event.

Tip: Beginners sometimes put the time/place in the wrong part of the sentence; remember the chunk order here.

我洗澡，在出门之前。

Wǒ xǐzǎo, zài chūmén zhīqián.

I take a shower before leaving home.
我检查邮件，在会议之前。

Wǒ jiǎnchá yóujiàn, zài huìyì zhīqián.

I check email before the meeting.

___之后，我通常___。

___ zhīhòu, wǒ tōngcháng ___.

After ___, I usually ___.

Meaning: After ___, I usually ___.

When to use: Describe what you do following another daily event.

下班之后，我通常去健身。

Xiàbān zhīhòu, wǒ tōngcháng qù jiànshēn.

After work, I usually go to the gym.
吃完早餐之后，我通常骑车上班。

Chī wán zǎofàn zhīhòu, wǒ tōngcháng qí chē shàngbān.

After breakfast, I usually bike to work.

___我通常___。

___ wǒ tōngcháng ___.

On ___, I usually ___.

Meaning: On ___, I usually ___.

When to use: Describe a routine for a day of the week or weekend period.

周末我通常睡得晚。

Zhōumò wǒ tōngcháng shuì de wǎn.

On weekends I usually sleep late.
周一我通常早上开会。

Zhōuyī wǒ tōngcháng zǎoshang kāihuì.

On Mondays I usually have meetings in the morning.

我从___到___都很忙。

Wǒ cóng ___ dào ___ dōu hěn máng.

I'm busy from ___ to ___.

Meaning: I'm busy from ___ to ___.

When to use: Explain a time range when you are unavailable.

我从九点到十二点都很忙。

Wǒ cóng jiǔ diǎn dào shí'èr diǎn dōu hěn máng.

I'm busy from 9 to 12.
我从下午两点到四点都很忙，不能接电话。

Wǒ cóng xiàwǔ liǎng diǎn dào sì diǎn dōu hěn máng, bùnéng jiē diànhuà.

I'm busy from 2 to 4 PM and can't take calls.

我需要___来___。

Wǒ xūyào ___ lái ___.

It takes me ___ to ___.

Meaning: It takes me ___ to ___.

When to use: Say how long an everyday activity usually takes.

Tip: Don't forget 来 (lái) before the verb when giving duration in this pattern.

我需要半小时来做饭。

Wǒ xūyào bàn xiǎoshí lái zuò fàn.

I need half an hour to cook.
我需要十分钟来整理包。

Wǒ xūyào shí fēnzhōng lái zhěnglǐ bāo.

I need ten minutes to tidy my bag.

我尽量每天___。

Wǒ jǐnliàng měitiān ___.

I try to ___ every day.

Meaning: I try to ___ every day.

When to use: Talk about a daily habit or goal you attempt to do regularly.

我尽量每天跑步。

Wǒ jǐnliàng měitiān pǎobù.

I try to run every day.
我尽量每天学中文半小时。

Wǒ jǐnliàng měitiān xué Zhōngwén bàn xiǎoshí.

I try to study Chinese half an hour every day.

___我通常不___。

___ wǒ tōngcháng bù ___.

I don't usually ___ on ___.

Meaning: I don't usually ___ on ___.

When to use: Say that an activity is not part of your usual routine during a time or day.

Tip: Beginners sometimes place the time after 不; put the time or day first for natural Chinese.

周末我通常不去公司。

Zhōumò wǒ tōngcháng bù qù gōngsī.

I don't usually go to the office on weekends.
晚上我通常不看工作邮件。

Wǎnshàng wǒ tōngcháng bù kàn gōngzuò yóujiàn.

I usually don't check work email at night.

你通常在___做什么？

Nǐ tōngcháng zài ___ zuò shénme?

What do you usually do in the ___?

Meaning: What do you usually do in the ___?

When to use: Ask about typical activities during a part of the day (morning, evening, etc.).

你通常在早上做什么？

Nǐ tōngcháng zài zǎoshang zuò shénme?

What do you usually do in the morning?
你通常在晚上做什么？

Nǐ tōngcháng zài wǎnshang zuò shénme?

What do you usually do in the evening?

我的闹钟在___响。

wǒ de nàozhōng zài ___ xiǎng.

My alarm goes off at ___.

Meaning: My alarm goes off at ___.

When to use: State the time your alarm rings to describe an automatic start to your routine.

我的闹钟在六点半响。

Wǒ de nàozhōng zài liù diǎn bàn xiǎng.

My alarm rings at 6:30.
我的闹钟在每天早上七点响。

Wǒ de nàozhōng zài měitiān zǎoshang qī diǎn xiǎng.

My alarm rings at 7 every morning.

我为___做准备。

wǒ wèi ___ zuò zhǔnbèi.

I get ready for ___.

Meaning: I get ready for ___.

When to use: Say what you are preparing for in your routine, like work or school.

我为上班做准备，换好衣服，吃早饭。

Wǒ wèi shàngbān zuò zhǔnbèi, huàn hǎo yīfú, chī zǎofàn.

I get ready for work: change clothes and eat breakfast.
我为考试做准备，所以今天复习很多内容。

Wǒ wèi kǎoshì zuò zhǔnbèi, suǒyǐ jīntiān fùxí hěn duō nèiróng.

I'm getting ready for an exam, so I studied a lot today.

我大概___出门。

wǒ dàgài ___ chūmén.

I leave home at about ___.

Meaning: I leave home at about ___.

When to use: Say the approximate time you go out or leave home.

我大概七点半出门，赶地铁。

Wǒ dàgài qī diǎn bàn chūmén, gǎn dìtiě.

I leave home at about 7:30 to catch the subway.
今天雾大，我大概八点出门会更安全。

Jīntiān wù dà, wǒ dàgài bā diǎn chūmén huì gèng ānquán.

It's foggy today; leaving at about 8 will be safer.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna and David compare morning routines before work

Two colleagues chatting by the office elevator about what time they leave home and what they do after work, with Simplified Chinese captions.

What time does David usually leave home?

Portrait of Anna in a Simplified Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

你通常几点起床？

Nǐ tōngcháng jǐ diǎn qǐchuáng?

What time do you usually wake up?

Portrait of David in a Simplified Chinese lesson dialogue

David

我通常六点半起床。我的闹钟在六点响。

Wǒ tōngcháng liù diǎn bàn qǐchuáng. Wǒ de nàozhōng zài liù diǎn xiǎng.

I usually get up at 6:30. My alarm goes off at 6.

Portrait of Anna in a Simplified Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

你为上班做准备，还是先吃早饭？

Nǐ wèi shàngbān zuò zhǔnbèi, háishì xiān chī zǎofàn?

Do you get ready for work first, or eat breakfast first?

Portrait of David in a Simplified Chinese lesson dialogue

David

我为上班做准备，之后我通常吃一点东西，然后大概七点半出门。

Wǒ wèi shàngbān zuò zhǔnbèi, zhīhòu wǒ tōngcháng chī yīdiǎn dōngxi, ránhòu dàgài qī diǎn bàn chūmén.

I get ready for work, then I usually eat something, and I leave home at about 7:30.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which phrase completes '你通常几点___？' to ask 'What time do you usually eat breakfast?'

Choose the correct translation: 'I leave home at about 8.'

Which sentence means 'I'm busy from 9 to 5'?

Which sentence uses the pattern '你通常在___做什么？' to ask about the morning?

My alarm goes off at six, so I usually get up at 6:30.

我的闹钟在 ___ 响，所以我通常六点半起床。

On weekends I usually don't go to the office; I like to rest at home.

周末 ___ 我通常不去公司，我喜欢在家休息。

Before cooking dinner, I need half an hour to prepare the ingredients, so I'm about to chop vegetables now.

做晚饭前，我 ___ 来准备食材，所以我现在要切菜。

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

我通常___，是在___。

Wǒ tōngcháng ___, shì zài ___.

I usually ___ at ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

你通常几点___？

Nǐ tōngcháng jǐ diǎn ___?

What time do you usually ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

我___，在___之前。

Wǒ ___, zài ___ zhīqián.

I ___ before ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

___之后，我通常___。

___ zhīhòu, wǒ tōngcháng ___.

After ___, I usually ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

___我通常___。

___ wǒ tōngcháng ___.

On ___, I usually ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

我从___到___都很忙。

Wǒ cóng ___ dào ___ dōu hěn máng.

I'm busy from ___ to ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

我需要___来___。

Wǒ xūyào ___ lái ___.

It takes me ___ to ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

我尽量每天___。

Wǒ jǐnliàng měitiān ___.

I try to ___ every day.

Say this phrase out loud:

___我通常不___。

___ wǒ tōngcháng bù ___.

I don't usually ___ on ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

你通常在___做什么？

Nǐ tōngcháng zài ___ zuò shénme?

What do you usually do in the ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

我的闹钟在___响。

Wǒ de nàozhōng zài ___ xiǎng.

My alarm goes off at ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

我为___做准备。

Wǒ wèi ___ zuò zhǔnbèi.

I get ready for ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

我大概___出门。

Wǒ dàgài ___ chūmén.

I leave home at about ___.