Minutes and Hour in Chinese

Grammar Point:
In Chinese, the words used to express durations in minutes (分鐘钟 fēnzhōng) and hours (小時时 xiǎoshí) are not exactly the same as the words used to indicate specific points in time for minutes (分 fēn) and hours (點点 diǎn).

Structure

In Chinese sentence structure, if it is a time word, it should be placed before the verb, but if it is a duration word, it should come after the verb.

Number + 分鐘/分钟

20 分鐘fēnzhōng20 分钟fēnzhōng
20 minutes

一yì堂táng課kè90 分鐘fēnzhōng一yì堂táng课kè90 分钟fēnzhōng
One class is 90 minutes long.

我wǒ3 分鐘fēnzhōng後hòu到dào我wǒ3 分钟fēnzhōng后hòu到dào
I will arrive in 3 minutes.

還hái差chā5 分鐘fēnzhōng就jiù99點diǎn20 分fēn了le还hái差chà55分钟fēnzhōng就jiù9 点diǎn20 分fēn了le
It’s 9:20 in 5 more minutes.

Number + (個/个) + 小時/小时

This term is commonly used in both Taiwan and China to indicate a duration of time or measure the length of an activity. It can be used with or without a measure word.

三sān小時xiǎoshí三sān小时xiǎoshí
Three hours

5 個ge半bàn小時xiǎoshí5 个ge半bàn小时xiǎoshí
5 and a half hours

台灣Táiwān有yǒu很hěn多duō24 小時xiǎoshí的de便利商店biànlìshāngdiàn台湾Táiwān有yǒu很hěn多duō24 小时xiǎoshí的de便利商店biànlìshāngdiàn
Taiwan has many 24-hour convenience stores.

兩liǎng個ge小時xiǎoshí是shì一yí個ge時辰shíchén两liǎng个ge小时xiǎoshí是shì一yí个ge时辰shíchén
Two hours make up one “shíchén” in the Chinese system.

FYI
The term 時时辰 shíchén refers to the traditional Chinese system of dividing a day into twelve two-hour periods, each associated with a specific animal sign from the Chinese zodiac. It is commonly used in astrology, fortune-telling, and various cultural practices in Chinese tradition.
Each 時时辰 shíchén is believed to possess different characteristics and influences, and it is thought that the time of one’s birth can affect their personality traits and destiny. Chinese people believe that by knowing which 時时辰 shíchén you were born in, we can gain insights into your past and future.🔮👀

Number + 個/个 + 鐘頭/钟头

This term is less commonly used in Taiwan and must be accompanied by a measure word.

我wǒ昨天zuótiān只zhǐ睡shuì了le4 個ge鐘頭zhōngtóu我wǒ昨天zuótiān只zhǐ睡shuì了le4 个ge钟头zhōngtóu
I only slept for 4 hours yesterday.

她tā已經yǐjīng學xué中文zhōngwén學xué了le三sān個ge半bàn鐘頭zhōngtóu了le她tā已经yǐjīng学xué中文zhōngwén学xué了le三sān个ge半bàn钟头zhōngtóu了le
She has been studying Chinese for three and a half hours already.

我wǒ打算dǎsuàn睡shuì一下yíxià， 一yí個ge鐘頭zhōngtóu後hòu起床qǐcháig我wǒ打算dǎsuàn睡shuì一下yíxià， 一yí个ge钟头zhōngtóu后hòu起床qǐcháig
I plan to take a nap and wake up after one hour.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ This restaurant has a time limit of 90 minutes.

這zhè間jiān餐廳cāntīng限xiàn時shí90 分鐘fēnzhōng这zhè间jiān餐厅cāntīng限xiàn时shí90 分钟fēnzhōng

✔️ You were half an hour late.

你nǐ遲到chídào了le半bàn個ge小時xiǎoshí你nǐ迟到chídào了le半bàn个ge小时xiǎoshí

✔️ It takes an hour to drive from my house to the office.

從cóng我家wǒjiā到dào公司gōngsī要yào坐zuò1 個ge鐘頭zhōngtóu的de車chē从cóng我家wǒjiā到dào公司gōngsī要yào坐zuò1 个ge钟头zhōngtóu的de车chē