Traditional Chinese - Daily Routine

Lesson 60 of 152

A bright morning apartment scene for a Traditional Chinese Taiwan Mandarin lesson on daily routine, with an alarm clock, coffee, keys, and a phone on a desk.

Goal: Talk about your day, from alarm clock to bedtime-ish.

Free traditional Chinese lessons with Taiwan Mandarin audio and speaking practice.

Welcome to Lesson 60 — your Mandarin routine is getting real now. Today we’ll make your day sound smooth in Taiwan Mandarin, without needing to describe every sock you put on.

Level A2: In this lesson, you’ll practice phrases for daily routines: when your alarm rings, when you leave home, what you do before and after things, and how long activities take. You’ll also learn to ask about someone else’s usual schedule, so you can chat about real everyday life — very yak-able, very useful.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Say when you usually do something using 我通常在___ ___ (Wǒ tōngcháng zài ___ ___).
  • Ask what time someone usually does something with 你通常幾點___？ (Nǐ tōngcháng jǐ diǎn ___?)
  • Connect routine events with 之前 (zhīqián) and 之後 (zhīhòu).
  • Talk about busy time blocks and durations, like 我從___到___都很忙 (Wǒ cóng ___ dào ___ dōu hěn máng) and 我___要花___ (Wǒ ___ yào huā ___).
  • At A2, describe simple habits and goals with phrases like 我盡量每天___ (Wǒ jǐnliàng měitiān ___).
A learner reviewing Traditional Chinese phrases for Taiwan Mandarin daily routines, with a calendar and morning schedule visible in a cozy room.

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1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

我通常在___ ___。

Wǒ tōngcháng zài ___ ___。

I usually ___ at ___.

Meaning: I usually ___ at ___.

When to use: Use this to describe a regular action and the time you do it.

Tip: In Mandarin, the time usually comes before the action: 我通常在七點起床 (Wǒ tōngcháng zài qī diǎn qǐchuáng).

我通常在七點起床。

Wǒ tōngcháng zài qī diǎn qǐchuáng.

I usually get up at seven.
我通常在晚上十點看書。

Wǒ tōngcháng zài wǎnshàng shí diǎn kàn shū.

I usually read at ten at night.

你通常幾點___？

Nǐ tōngcháng jǐ diǎn ___?

What time do you usually ___?

Meaning: What time do you usually ___?

When to use: Use this to ask about someone’s regular schedule.

你通常幾點起床？

Nǐ tōngcháng jǐ diǎn qǐchuáng?

What time do you usually get up?
你通常幾點睡覺？

Nǐ tōngcháng jǐ diǎn shuìjiào?

What time do you usually sleep?

我會在___之前___。

Wǒ huì zài ___ zhīqián ___。

I ___ before ___.

Meaning: I ___ before ___.

When to use: Use this to say what you do before another part of your day.

Tip: The natural order is 在___之前 (zài ___ zhīqián), then the action.

我會在上班之前喝咖啡。

Wǒ huì zài shàngbān zhīqián hē kāfēi.

I drink coffee before work.
我會在睡覺之前洗澡。

Wǒ huì zài shuìjiào zhīqián xǐzǎo.

I shower before sleeping.

___之後，我通常會___。

___ zhīhòu, wǒ tōngcháng huì ___。

After ___, I usually ___.

Meaning: After ___, I usually ___.

When to use: Use this to describe what happens after a routine event.

下班之後，我通常會運動。

Xiàbān zhīhòu, wǒ tōngcháng huì yùndòng.

After work, I usually exercise.
吃完晚餐之後，我通常會看電視。

Chī wán wǎncān zhīhòu, wǒ tōngcháng huì kàn diànshì.

After dinner, I usually watch TV.

___的時候，我通常會___。

___ de shíhòu, wǒ tōngcháng huì ___。

On ___, I usually ___.

Meaning: On ___ / When it’s ___, I usually ___.

When to use: Use this with weekends, weekdays, mornings, evenings, or other time periods.

週末的時候，我通常會睡晚一點。

Zhōumò de shíhòu, wǒ tōngcháng huì shuì wǎn yīdiǎn.

On weekends, I usually sleep a little later.
早上的時候，我通常會聽音樂。

Zǎoshàng de shíhòu, wǒ tōngcháng huì tīng yīnyuè.

In the morning, I usually listen to music.

我從___到___都很忙。

Wǒ cóng ___ dào ___ dōu hěn máng。

I'm busy from ___ to ___.

Meaning: I’m busy from ___ to ___.

When to use: Use this when a block of time is full or unavailable.

我從九點到五點都很忙。

Wǒ cóng jiǔ diǎn dào wǔ diǎn dōu hěn máng.

I’m busy from nine to five.
我從星期一到星期五都很忙。

Wǒ cóng xīngqíyī dào xīngqíwǔ dōu hěn máng.

I’m busy from Monday to Friday.

我___要花___。

Wǒ ___ yào huā ___。

It takes me ___ to ___.

Meaning: It takes me ___ to ___.

When to use: Use this to say how long a routine activity takes.

Tip: Put the activity before 要花 (yào huā), then the length of time.

我通勤要花一個小時。

Wǒ tōngqín yào huā yī ge xiǎoshí.

My commute takes one hour.
我做早餐要花二十分鐘。

Wǒ zuò zǎocān yào huā èrshí fēnzhōng.

Making breakfast takes me twenty minutes.

我盡量每天___。

Wǒ jǐnliàng měitiān ___。

I try to ___ every day.

Meaning: I try to ___ every day.

When to use: Use this to talk about a habit, goal, or something you’re trying to keep up.

我盡量每天運動。

Wǒ jǐnliàng měitiān yùndòng.

I try to exercise every day.
我盡量每天練中文。

Wǒ jǐnliàng měitiān liàn Zhōngwén.

I try to practice Chinese every day.

我通常不會在___ ___。

Wǒ tōngcháng bú huì zài ___ ___。

I don't usually ___ on ___.

Meaning: I don’t usually ___ on/in/at ___.

When to use: Use this to say something is not part of your normal routine.

我通常不會在早上運動。

Wǒ tōngcháng bú huì zài zǎoshàng yùndòng.

I don’t usually exercise in the morning.
我通常不會在週末工作。

Wǒ tōngcháng bú huì zài zhōumò gōngzuò.

I don’t usually work on weekends.

你通常在___都做什麼？

Nǐ tōngcháng zài ___ dōu zuò shénme?

What do you usually do in the ___?

Meaning: What do you usually do in/on the ___?

When to use: Use this to ask about someone’s usual activity during a time period.

你通常在晚上都做什麼？

Nǐ tōngcháng zài wǎnshàng dōu zuò shénme?

What do you usually do in the evening?
你通常在週末都做什麼？

Nǐ tōngcháng zài zhōumò dōu zuò shénme?

What do you usually do on weekends?

我的鬧鐘___會響。

Wǒ de nàozhōng ___ huì xiǎng.

My alarm goes off at ___.

Meaning: My alarm goes off at ___.

When to use: Use this to say the usual time your alarm rings.

我的鬧鐘六點半會響。

Wǒ de nàozhōng liù diǎn bàn huì xiǎng.

My alarm goes off at six thirty.
我的鬧鐘早上七點會響。

Wǒ de nàozhōng zǎoshàng qī diǎn huì xiǎng.

My alarm goes off at seven in the morning.

我會為___做準備。

Wǒ huì wèi ___ zuò zhǔnbèi.

I get ready for ___.

Meaning: I get ready for ___.

When to use: Use this when preparing for work, school, an event, or a regular activity.

我會為上班做準備。

Wǒ huì wèi shàngbān zuò zhǔnbèi.

I get ready for work.
我會為考試做準備。

Wǒ huì wèi kǎoshì zuò zhǔnbèi.

I get ready for the test.

我大概___出門。

Wǒ dàgài ___ chūmén.

I leave home at about ___.

Meaning: I leave home at about ___.

When to use: Use this to say when you leave home to start your day.

我大概八點出門。

Wǒ dàgài bā diǎn chūmén.

I leave home at about eight.
我大概七點半出門。

Wǒ dàgài qī diǎn bàn chūmén.

I leave home at about seven thirty.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna and David are chatting before class about their morning routines.

Anna and David chatting in a Taiwan café about their daily routines in Traditional Chinese, with morning commute and work schedule icons around them.

Who sounds busier in the morning, Anna or David?

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

David，你通常幾點起床？

David, nǐ tōngcháng jǐ diǎn qǐchuáng?

David, what time do you usually get up?

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

我的鬧鐘六點半會響，我通常在七點起床。

Wǒ de nàozhōng liù diǎn bàn huì xiǎng, wǒ tōngcháng zài qī diǎn qǐchuáng.

My alarm goes off at six thirty, and I usually get up at seven.

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

你通常在早上都做什麼？

Nǐ tōngcháng zài zǎoshàng dōu zuò shénme?

What do you usually do in the morning?

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

我會在上班之前跑步，然後為上班做準備。

Wǒ huì zài shàngbān zhīqián pǎobù, ránhòu wèi shàngbān zuò zhǔnbèi.

I run before work, then get ready for work.

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

哇，我通常不會在早上運動。我大概八點出門。

Wa, wǒ tōngcháng bú huì zài zǎoshàng yùndòng. Wǒ dàgài bā diǎn chūmén.

Wow, I don’t usually exercise in the morning. I leave home at about eight.

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

我從九點到五點都很忙，下班之後，我通常會放鬆一下。

Wǒ cóng jiǔ diǎn dào wǔ diǎn dōu hěn máng, xiàbān zhīhòu, wǒ tōngcháng huì fàngsōng yīxià.

I’m busy from nine to five. After work, I usually relax a bit.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which phrase means “What time do you usually get up?”

Which sentence naturally says “After work, I usually exercise”?

Which phrase says “My commute takes one hour”?

Which question asks “What do you usually do on weekends?”

I drink coffee before work.

早上怕沒精神，我會在上班之前___。

My alarm goes off at seven thirty.

我每天早上要早起，我的鬧鐘___會響。

I’m busy from nine to five.

我白天在公司工作，從九點到五點都___。

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:

我通常在___ ___。

Wǒ tōngcháng zài ___ ___。

I usually ___ at ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

你通常幾點___？

Nǐ tōngcháng jǐ diǎn ___?

What time do you usually ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

我會在___之前___。

Wǒ huì zài ___ zhīqián ___。

I ___ before ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

___之後，我通常會___。

___ zhīhòu, wǒ tōngcháng huì ___。

After ___, I usually ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

___的時候，我通常會___。

___ de shíhòu, wǒ tōngcháng huì ___。

On ___, I usually ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

我從___到___都很忙。

Wǒ cóng ___ dào ___ dōu hěn máng。

I'm busy from ___ to ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

我___要花___。

Wǒ ___ yào huā ___。

It takes me ___ to ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

我盡量每天___。

Wǒ jǐnliàng měitiān ___。

I try to ___ every day.

Say this phrase out loud:

我通常不會在___ ___。

Wǒ tōngcháng bú huì zài ___ ___。

I don't usually ___ on ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

你通常在___都做什麼？

Nǐ tōngcháng zài ___ dōu zuò shénme?

What do you usually do in the ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

我的鬧鐘___會響。

Wǒ de nàozhōng ___ huì xiǎng.

My alarm goes off at ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

我會為___做準備。

Wǒ huì wèi ___ zuò zhǔnbèi.

I get ready for ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

我大概___出門。

Wǒ dàgài ___ chūmén.

I leave home at about ___.