How common it is
时 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
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Pronunciation focus
Say shí slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
“时”用来表示时间，可以是具体的时间点或时间段。
shí lái bǎo shì shí jiān ， kě yǐ shì具 体 的 时间 点 或 时间 段 。
"时" is used to indicate time, which can be specific points or periods of time.
Context note
“时”常用于描述日常活动的时间安排，如吃饭、睡觉等。
shí cháng yòng lái bǎo shì rì chánɡ huó 动 的 时间 安排 ， 如 吃饭 、 睡觉 等 。
"时" is commonly used to describe the timing of daily activities, such as eating and sleeping.
5 examples
现在是吃饭的时间。
xiàn zài shì chī fàn de shí jiān。
It's time to eat now.
每天早上七时起床。
měi tiān zǎo shàng qī shí qǐ chuáng。
Get up at seven every morning.
他通常在下午一时工作。
tā tōng cháng zài xià wǔ yì shí gōng zuò。
He usually works from one in the afternoon.
这个活动持续了两个小时。
zhè ge huó dòng chí xù le liǎng gè xiǎo shí。
The event lasted two hours.
昨天晚上九时半我们去看电影。
zuó tiān wǎn shàng jiǔ shí bàn wǒ men qù kàn diàn yǐng。
We went to watch a movie last night at nine-thirty.
5 mini stories
妈妈说早上八时要起床。爸爸说九时才开始吃早餐。
mā ma shuō zǎo shàng bā shí yào qǐ chuáng。 bà ba shuō jiǔ shí cái kāi shǐ chī zǎo cān。
Mom said to get up at eight in the morning. Dad said it's okay to eat breakfast at nine.
小明说他七时半到学校。老师说八时才开始上课。
xiǎo míng shuō tā qī shí bàn dào xué xiào。 lǎo shī shuō bā shí cái kāi shǐ shàng kè。
Xiaoming said he would arrive at school at seven-thirty. The teacher said class doesn't start until eight.
妈妈说晚上十时要睡觉。爸爸说九时半可以开始准备。
mā ma shuō wǎn shàng shí shí yào shuì jiào。 bà ba shuō jiǔ shí bàn kě yǐ kāi shǐ zhǔn bèi。
Mom said to go to bed at ten in the evening. Dad said it's okay to start preparing at nine-thirty.
小红说她六时半去图书馆。老师说七时才开始借书。
xiǎo hóng shuō tā liù shí bàn qù tú shū guǎn。 lǎo shī shuō qī shí cái kāi shǐ jiè shū。
Xiaohong said she would go to the library at six-thirty. The teacher said borrowing books doesn't start until seven.
妈妈说下午四时半要回家。爸爸说五时才开始准备晚餐。
mā ma shuō xià wǔ sì shí bàn yào huí jiā。 bà ba shuō wǔ shí cái kāi shǐ zhǔn bèi wǎn cān。
Mom said to go home at four-thirty in the afternoon. Dad said it's okay to start preparing dinner at five.