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Lesson 9 of 10
Time and days in Mandarin Chinese
Now, later, tomorrow, what time it opens and one moment please. Play the ten Mandarin Chinese words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Mandarin Chinese phrases in this lesson
- 现在shyen-DZAI
- Now
- 待会儿dai-HWER
- Later
- 今天jin-TYEN
- Today
- 明天ming-TYEN
- Tomorrow
- 今晚jin-WAN
- Tonight
- 什么时候？SHUN-muh shir-hoh
- When?
- 几点开门？jee-dyen kai-MUN
- What time does it open?
- 等一下dung-ee-SHYA
- One moment, please
- 分钟fun-JONG
- Minutes
- 小时shyow-SHIR
- Hours
现在几点 (shyen-dzai jee-DYEN): what time is it now? All of China runs on a single time zone, Beijing time, so western sunrises come very late by the clock.
Literally "in a little while".
Literally "now day". The tiān (day/sky) family: 今天 today, 明天 tomorrow, 昨天 yesterday, 天天 every day.
Literally "bright day", written with sun and moon side by side. One of the prettiest characters to know: 明.
Literally "what hour open door?".
Literally "wait a moment", the all-purpose "hang on". Waiters and shop staff say it constantly.