In Chinese, the words used to express durations in minutes (分鐘 fēnzhōng分钟 fēnzhōng) and hours (小時 xiǎoshí小时 xiǎoshí) are not the same as the words used to indicate specific points in time for minutes (分 fēn) and hours (點 diǎn点 diǎn).
1Point in Time vs. Length of Time
Chinese uses different words for a point in time (“at 3:20”) and a length of time (“for 20 minutes”). They also go in different places in the sentence: a time word goes before the verb, but a duration word comes after the verb. (One exception that isn’t really an exception: a duration followed by 後 hòu后 hòu — “in 3 minutes” — becomes a point in time. More on that in Section 2.)
| Point in Time | Length of Time |
|---|
| Minutes | 分 fēn | 分鐘 fēnzhōng分钟 fēnzhōng |
| Hours | 點 diǎn点 diǎn | 小時 xiǎoshí小时 xiǎoshí / 鐘頭 zhōngtóu钟头 zhōngtóu |
| Position | before the verb | after the verb |
Subject + Time Point + Verb
Subject + Verb + Duration
我十一點睡覺我十一点睡觉
I go to bed at 11 o’clock.
我睡了八個小時我睡了八个小时
I slept for eight hours.
2Number + 分鐘 fēnzhōng分钟 fēnzhōng
20分鐘20分钟
20 minutes
一堂課90分鐘一堂课90分钟
One class is 90 minutes long.
我3分鐘後到我3分钟后到
I will arrive in 3 minutes.
還差5分鐘就9點20分了还差5分钟就9点20分了
In 5 more minutes it will be 9:20.
Duration + 後 hòu后 hòu = a Point in Time
In 我3分鐘後到 wǒ sān fēnzhōng hòu dào我3分钟后到 wǒ sān fēnzhōng hòu dào, the phrase 3分鐘後 sān fēnzhōng hòu3分钟后 sān fēnzhōng hòu doesn’t tell you how long the arriving lasts. It means “3 minutes from now,” which is a moment in time. That makes it a time word, so it goes before the verb.
Compare: 我等了3分鐘 wǒ děng le sān fēnzhōng我等了3分钟 wǒ děng le sān fēnzhōng (“I waited for 3 minutes”) is a real duration, so it comes after the verb. The same goes for 前 qián (“ago”): 3分鐘前 sān fēnzhōng qián3分钟前 sān fēnzhōng qián is also a point in time.
Key Point
The last example uses both words: 5分鐘 wǔ fēnzhōng5分钟 wǔ fēnzhōng is how long, and 9點20分 jiǔ diǎn èrshí fēn9点20分 jiǔ diǎn èrshí fēn is the moment on the clock.
3Number + (個 ge个 ge) + 小時 xiǎoshí小时 xiǎoshí
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 the measure word 個 ge个 ge.
三小時三小时
three hours
5個半小時5个半小时
five and a half hours
台灣有很多24小時的便利商店台湾有很多24小时的便利店
Taiwan has many 24-hour convenience stores.
兩個小時是一個時辰两个小时是一个时辰
Two hours make up one 時辰 shíchén时辰 shíchén in the traditional Chinese system.
Key Point
半 bàn (“half”) goes after 個 ge个 ge: 5個半小時 wǔ ge bàn xiǎoshí5个半小时 wǔ ge bàn xiǎoshí is “five and a half hours.” Half an hour on its own is 半個小時 bàn ge xiǎoshí半个小时 bàn ge xiǎoshí.
Culture Note: 時辰 shíchén时辰 shíchén
The term 時辰 shíchén时辰 shíchén refers to the traditional Chinese system of dividing a day into twelve two-hour periods, each associated with an animal sign from the Chinese zodiac. It is commonly used in astrology, fortune-telling, and various cultural practices in Chinese tradition.
Each 時辰 shíchén时辰 shíchén is believed to have its own characteristics and influences, and the time of one’s birth is thought to affect personality and destiny. Many people believe that by knowing which 時辰 shíchén时辰 shíchén you were born in, they can gain insights into your past and future. 🔮👀
4Number + 個 ge个 ge + 鐘頭 zhōngtóu钟头 zhōngtóu
鐘頭 zhōngtóu钟头 zhōngtóu means the same as 小時 xiǎoshí小时 xiǎoshí, but it is less commonly used in Taiwan and is more colloquial. Unlike 小時 xiǎoshí小时 xiǎoshí, it must be used with the measure word 個 ge个 ge.
我昨天只睡了4個鐘頭我昨天只睡了4个钟头
I only slept for 4 hours yesterday.
她已經學中文學了三個半鐘頭了她已经学中文学了三个半钟头了
She has been studying Chinese for three and a half hours already.
我打算睡一下，一個鐘頭後起床我打算睡一下，一个钟头后起床
I plan to take a nap and get up in an hour.
5Common Mistakes
❌我八個小時睡了我八个小时睡了
✅我睡了八個小時我睡了八个小时
A length of time goes after the verb, not before it.
❌一堂課九十分一堂课九十分
✅一堂課九十分鐘一堂课九十分钟
分 fēn is a point on the clock. To say how long something lasts, use 分鐘 fēnzhōng分钟 fēnzhōng.
❌三鐘頭三钟头
✅三個鐘頭三个钟头
鐘頭 zhōngtóu钟头 zhōngtóu always needs 個 ge个 ge in front of it. (With 小時 xiǎoshí小时 xiǎoshí, 個 ge个 ge is optional.)
6Practice
Translate each sentence into Chinese, then tap the card to check your answer.
01This restaurant has a 90-minute time limit.
這間餐廳限時90分鐘这家餐厅限时90分钟
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02You were half an hour late.
你遲到了半個小時你迟到了半个小时
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03It takes an hour by car to get from my house to the office.
從我家到公司要坐1個鐘頭的車从我家到公司要坐1个钟头的车
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04I sleep seven hours every day.
我每天睡七個小時我每天睡七个小时
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05Wait for me for five minutes.
等我五分鐘等我五分钟
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06This movie is two and a half hours long.
這部電影兩個半小時这部电影两个半小时
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07I’ll call you in ten minutes.
我十分鐘後打電話給你我十分钟后给你打电话
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08He watched TV for three hours.
他看了三個小時的電視他看了三个小时的电视
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