Telling Time
Five key words to tell time in Chinese: "o'clock",
"minute", "half", "quarter", and "to be short of"
What is
点 diǎn, 分 fēn, 半bàn, 刻 kè, and 差 chà?
The words that express the year, month, date, and week in Chinese
What is
nián 年, yuè 月, rì/hào 日/号,
and xīngqī 星期/lǐbài 礼拜/zhōu 周
The way you express that: "I am not very good today".
What is
Wǒ jīn tiān bú tài hǎo.
我今天不太好。
One way to ask one's availability: "Are you busy?"
What is
你忙吗？Nǐ máng ma?
The word you add at the end of the sentence to make a suggestion
What is 吧 ba?
Telling the time 5:45 in three ways
What is
wǔ diǎn sì shí wǔ/wǔ diǎn sān kè/chà yí kè liù diǎn
五点四十五/五点三刻/差一刻六点
The way to ask about the date of today, and the day of the week of today
What is
Jīntiān jǐ yuè jǐ hào?
今天几月几号？
Jīn tiān xīng qī jǐ?
今天星期几？
The way you express that: "I am busy this morning, not busy this afternoon. "
What is
Wǒ jīn tiān shāngwǔ hěn máng, xiàwǔ bù máng.
我今天上午很忙，下午不忙。
The way to ask one's availability by asking:
“Do you have some time? ”
and “Do you have some free time? ”
What is:
你有时间吗？Nǐ yǒu shíjiān ma?
你有空儿吗？Nǐ yǒu kòngr ma?
The way you make a suggestion of "Let's drink some coffee."
What is
Wǒmen hē kāfēi ba. 我们喝咖啡吧。
The words to express the division of the day:
early morning, evening,
morning, noon, and afternoon
What is:
早上 zǎoshang 晚上 wǎnshang
上午 shàngwǔ 中午 zhōngwǔ 下午 xiàwǔ
"What day is Oct 30th?"
What is
Shi yuè sānshí hào xīng qī jǐ?
十月三十号星期几？
The way to express that:
I have a class at 2pm this afternoon.
What is
Wǒ jīn tiān xiàwǔ liǎng diǎn yǒu kè.
我今天下午两点有课。
The way to ask one's availability by asking:
“Do you have things (to do) now?”
What is:
你现在有事儿吗？Nǐ xiànzài yǒu shìr ma?
Three ways/words to accept a suggestion
What is "Xíng 行", "Kěyǐ 可以", and "Hǎo 好"?
The time we begin and finish our class is 2:00pm and 5:15 pm. Please tell those times in Chinese.
What is
xià wǔ liǎng diǎn 下午两点
xià wǔ wǔ diǎn yí kè 下午五点一刻
The way to ask the date of this Sunday
"What’s the date of this Sunday?"
What is
Zhè xīngqīrì jǐ hào?
这星期日几号？
The way to express:
I drink coffee in the early morning, not during the day.
What is
Wǒ zǎoshang hē kāfēi, bái tiān bù hē.
我早上喝咖啡，白天不喝。
Three ways to express that you are available
What is:
Wǒ bù máng. 我不忙。
Wǒ yǒu shíjiān/kōngr. 我有时间/空儿 。
Wǒ xiànzài méiyǒu shìr. 我现在没有事儿。
Make a suggestion of "Let’s see a movie together."
What is: Wǒ men yìqǐ kàn diànyǐng ba.
我们一起看电影吧。
Telling the time:
10:40 am yesterday, and
9:30 tonight
What is:
zuó tiān shàng wǔ shí diǎn sì shí
昨天上午十点四十
jīn tiān wǎn shàng jiǔ diǎn bàn
今天晚上九点半
The way to ask about one's birthday
Nǐ de shēng rì jǐ yuè jǐ hào?
你的生日几月几号？
The way to ask: Which day are we going to Shenzhen?
What is
Wǒmen nǎ tiān qù Shēnzhèn?
我们哪天去深圳？
Three ways to express that you are NOT available NOW
What is:
Wǒ xiànzàihěng máng. 我现在很忙。
Wǒ xiànzài méiyǒu shíjiān/kòngr.
我现在没有时间/空儿 。
Wǒ xiànzài yǒu shìr. 我现在有事儿。
The way to reject a suggestion politely: Sorry, I am afraid not.
What is "Duì bù qǐ, kǒng pà bù xíng.
对不起，恐怕不行。"?