⏰ Chinese Telling Time Vocabulary 时间表达

199 essential Mandarin Chinese words for the Telling Time scene, each with pinyin, English meaning, HSK level and native speaker audio, plus example sentences. Tap 🔊 to listen.

点 diǎn HSK 1
o'clock; a little
现在几点？xiàn zài jǐ diǎn?What time is it now?
现在 xiàn zài HSK 1
now
现在我很忙。xiàn zài wǒ hěn máng.I'm busy now.
白天 bái tiān HSK 1
daytime; during the day
他白天工作。tā bái tiān gōng zuòHe works during the day.
半年 bàn nián HSK 1
half a year
我学了半年汉语。wǒ xué le bàn nián hàn yǔI've studied Chinese for half a year.
半天 bàn tiān HSK 1
half a day; a long while
我等了你半天。wǒ děng le nǐ bàn tiānI waited for you for a long while.
分 fēn HSK 1
minute (of time)
现在八点十分。xiàn zài bā diǎn shí fēnIt's now ten past eight.
上次 shàng cì HSK 1
last time
上次我们见过shàng cì wǒ men jiàn guoWe met last time.
上午 shàng wǔ HSK 1
morning; forenoon
我上午有汉语课wǒ shàng wǔ yǒu hàn yǔ kèI have a Chinese class in the morning.
时候 shí hou HSK 1
time; moment; (the time) when
你什么时候来nǐ shén me shí hou láiWhen are you coming?
晚 wǎn HSK 1
late; evening
今天我起晚了jīn tiān wǒ qǐ wǎn leI got up late today.
晚上 wǎn shang HSK 1
evening; night
今天晚上你有空吗jīn tiān wǎn shang nǐ yǒu kòng maAre you free this evening?
下次 xià cì HSK 1
next time
下次我请你吃饭。xià cì wǒ qǐng nǐ chī fànNext time I'll treat you to a meal.
下午 xià wǔ HSK 1
afternoon; p.m.
下午我去买东西。xià wǔ wǒ qù mǎi dōng xiI'm going shopping in the afternoon.
小时 xiǎo shí HSK 1
hour (standard word for duration: 一个小时)
我学了一个小时wǒ xué le yí ge xiǎo shíI studied for an hour.
一会儿 yí huìr HSK 1
a moment; a while
请等我一会儿qǐng děng wǒ yí huìrPlease wait for me a moment.
早 zǎo HSK 1
early (adj.); also 'Morning!' greeting
你今天来得很早。nǐ jīn tiān lái de hěn zǎoYou came very early today.
早上 zǎo shang HSK 1
morning (the time slot, approx. 6–9 a.m.)
早上我去学校zǎo shang wǒ qù xué xiàoIn the morning I go to school.
中午 zhōng wǔ HSK 1
noon; midday
我们中午一起吃饭wǒ men zhōng wǔ yì qǐ chī fànLet's eat together at noon.
分钟 fēn zhōng HSK 2
minute
请等我五分钟qǐng děng wǒ wǔ fēn zhōngPlease wait five minutes for me.
夜 yè HSK 2
night
他昨天工作了一整夜。tā zuó tiān gōng zuò le yì zhěng yèHe worked all night yesterday.
刚才 gāng cái HSK 2
just now (time noun: the moment that just passed)
刚才你说什么了?gāng cái nǐ shuō shén me leWhat did you say just now?
日子 rì zi HSK 2
day; date; days of one's life
现在的日子越来越好了。xiàn zài de rì zi yuè lái yuè hǎo leLife is getting better and better now.
表 biǎo HSK 2
watch; form; table
我买了一块新表。wǒ mǎi le yí kuài xīn biǎoI bought a new watch.
最近 zuì jìn HSK 2
recently, these days (the common everyday word)
我最近很忙。wǒ zuì jìn hěn mángI've been very busy lately.
那时 nà shí HSK 2
at that time (demonstrative 'that time'; concise)
那时我还是个小孩子。nà shí wǒ hái shì ge xiǎo hái ziAt that time I was still a little child.
多久 duō jiǔ HSK 2
how long (of time)
你学中文多久了？nǐ xué zhōng wén duō jiǔ leHow long have you been studying Chinese?
不久 bù jiǔ HSK 2
soon; before long; not long after
他不久就会回来。tā bù jiǔ jiù huì huí láiHe will be back soon.
平时 píng shí HSK 2
usually; ordinarily; in normal times
他平时很少喝酒。tā píng shí hěn shǎo hē jiǔHe rarely drinks alcohol normally.
好久 hǎo jiǔ HSK 2
quite a while; a long time
好久不见，你还好吗？hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn nǐ hái hǎo maLong time no see, how are you?
早晨 zǎo chen HSK 2
early morning (dawn hours; more written than 早上)
早晨的空气很新鲜。zǎo chen de kōng qì hěn xīn xiānThe morning air is fresh.
这时 zhè shí HSK 2
at this time; at this moment
这时电话突然响了。zhè shí diàn huà tū rán xiǎng leAt this moment the phone suddenly rang.
刻 kè HSK 2
quarter (of an hour); to carve
现在是三点一刻。xiàn zài shì sān diǎn yí kèIt is now a quarter past three.
半夜 bàn yè HSK 2
midnight; middle of the night
他半夜才回到家。tā bàn yè cái huí dào jiāHe didn't get home until midnight.
夜里 yè li HSK 2
at night; during the night; nighttime
他常常夜里学习到很晚。tā cháng cháng yè li xué xí dào hěn wǎnHe often studies until very late at night.
那时候 nà shí hou HSK 2
back then (full spoken form of 那时; most common)
那时候我还很小。nà shí hou wǒ hái hěn xiǎoAt that time I was still very young.
时 shí HSK 3
time; when; hour; o'clock
我上课时不玩手机。wǒ shàng kè shí bù wán shǒu jīI don't play with my phone when I'm in class.
久 jiǔ HSK 3
(for a) long time; long (duration)
我们好久没见面了。wǒ men hǎo jiǔ méi jiàn miàn leWe haven't seen each other for a long time.
时刻 shí kè HSK 3
moment; constantly
这是我一生中最重要的时刻。zhè shì wǒ yì shēng zhōng zuì zhòng yào de shí kèThis is the most important moment of my life.
钟 zhōng HSK 3
clock; o'clock; bell
现在是三点钟。xiàn zài shì sān diǎn zhōngIt's three o'clock now.
工夫 gōng fu HSK 3
time; effort; skill
做这道菜要花很多工夫。zuò zhè dào cài yào huā hěn duō gōng fuMaking this dish takes a lot of time and effort.
空儿 kòngr HSK 3
spare time; free time
你今天下午有空儿吗nǐ jīn tiān xià wǔ yǒu kòngr maDo you have free time this afternoon?
度过 dù guò HSK 4
to spend (time); to get through
我们在海边度过了愉快的一天。wǒ men zài hǎi biān dù guò le yú kuài de yì tiānWe spent a pleasant day at the seaside.
多年 duō nián HSK 4
many years; for many years
我们是多年的老朋友了。wǒ men shì duō nián de lǎo péng you leWe've been old friends for many years.
闹钟 nào zhōng HSK 4
alarm clock
我每天六点用闹钟叫醒自己。wǒ měi tiān liù diǎn yòng nào zhōng jiào xǐng zì jǐEvery day I wake myself up at six with an alarm clock.
秒 miǎo HSK 5
second (unit of time)
他跑一百米只用了十几秒tā pǎo yì bǎi mǐ zhǐ yòng le shí jǐ miǎoHe ran 100 meters in just over ten seconds.
时光 shí guāng HSK 5
time; period of time; days
大学的那段时光让我难忘。dà xué de nà duàn shí guāng ràng wǒ nán wàngThose days in college are unforgettable to me.
此刻 cǐ kè HSK 5
this moment; right now
此刻我的心情非常激动。cǐ kè wǒ de xīn qíng fēi cháng jī dòngRight now my mood is very excited.
岁月 suì yuè HSK 5
years; the passage of time
那段岁月是我一生中最难忘的。nà duàn suì yuè shì wǒ yì shēng zhōng zuì nán wàng deThose years were the most unforgettable of my life.
夜间 yè jiān HSK 5
nighttime; during the night
这条路夜间禁止通行。zhè tiáo lù yè jiān jìn zhǐ tōng xíngThis road is closed to traffic at night.
清晨 qīng chén HSK 5
early morning; dawn
清晨的空气特别清新。qīng chén de kōng qì tè bié qīng xīnThe air in the early morning is especially fresh.
傍晚 bàng wǎn HSK 6
toward evening; at dusk; nightfall
我们常常在傍晚去河边散步。wǒ men cháng cháng zài bàng wǎn qù hé biān sàn bùWe often go for a walk by the river in the evening.
近日 jìn rì HSK 6
recently; in the past/next few days
近日气温骤降，请注意保暖。jìn rì qì wēn zhòu jiàng qǐng zhù yì bǎo nuǎnThe temperature has dropped sharply in the past few days; please stay warm.
日夜 rì yè HSK 6
day and night; around the clock
工人们日夜赶工，终于完成了任务。gōng rén men rì yè gǎn gōng zhōng yú wán chéng le rèn wuThe workers rushed day and night and finally finished the task.
时节 shí jié HSK 6
season; time (of year)
清明时节常常下雨。qīng míng shí jié cháng cháng xià yǔIt often rains around the Qingming season.
钟头 zhōng tóu HSK 6
hour (colloquial synonym of 小时, same meaning)
我等了他两个钟头才来。wǒ děng le tā liǎng gè zhōng tóu cái láiI waited two hours for him before he came.
等 děng HSK 1
to wait
请等一下。qǐng děng yí xià.Please wait a moment.
有空儿 yǒu kòngr HSK 2
to have free time; be available
你明天有空儿吗？nǐ míng tiān yǒu kòngr maAre you free tomorrow?
等待 děng dài HSK 3
to wait; to wait for
我们在门口等待朋友。wǒ men zài mén kǒu děng dài péng youWe are waiting for our friend at the door.
日常 rì cháng HSK 3
day-to-day; daily; everyday
散步是他的日常活动。sàn bù shì tā de rì cháng huó dòngWalking is his daily activity.
迟到 chí dào HSK 4
to be late; to arrive late
对不起，今天我又迟到了。duì bu qǐ jīn tiān wǒ yòu chí dào leSorry, I was late again today.
等候 děng hòu HSK 5
to wait; to await
请在门口等候叫号。qǐng zài mén kǒu děng hòu jiào hàoPlease wait at the door for your number to be called.
打发 dǎ fa HSK 6
to while away (time); to send sb off
他靠看书打发时间。tā kào kàn shū dǎ fa shí jiānHe passes the time by reading books.
快 kuài HSK 1
fast; quick
他跑得很快。tā pǎo de hěn kuài.He runs very fast.
慢 màn HSK 1
slow
请说慢一点。qǐng shuō màn yì diǎn.Please speak a bit slower.
时间 shí jiān HSK 1
time
你有时间吗?nǐ yǒu shí jiān ma?Do you have time?
黑夜 hēi yè HSK 6
night; dark night
在漆黑的黑夜里他迷路了。zài qīhēi de hēi yè lǐ tā mílù leHe got lost in the pitch-black night.
及时 jí shí HSK 3
timely; in time; promptly; without delay
谢谢你及时提醒我xiè xie nǐ jí shí tí xǐng wǒThank you for reminding me in time.
快速 kuài sù HSK 3
fast; high-speed; rapid
他用快速的方法解决了问题tā yòng kuài sù de fāng fǎ jiě jué le wèn tíHe solved the problem using a fast method.
连续 lián xù HSK 3
continuous; consecutive; in a row
他连续工作了十个小时tā lián xù gōng zuò le shí gè xiǎo shíHe worked for ten hours in a row.
迅速 xùn sù HSK 4
rapid; speedy; swift
消防队迅速赶到了现场。xiāo fáng duì xùn sù gǎn dào le xiàn chǎngThe firefighters rushed to the scene swiftly.
迟 chí HSK 5
late; slow; tardy
你怎么这么迟才来？nǐ zěn me zhè me chí cái láiWhy did you come so late?
闲 xián HSK 5
idle; free; unoccupied
他一闲下来就看书。tā yì xián xià lái jiù kàn shūAs soon as he has free time, he reads.
漫长 màn cháng HSK 5
very long; endless
这是一段漫长而艰苦的旅程zhè shì yí duàn màn cháng ér jiān kǔ de lǚ chéngThis is a long and hard journey.
频繁 pín fán HSK 5
frequent; frequently
他最近频繁出差，很少在家。tā zuì jìn pín fán chū chāi hěn shǎo zài jiāHe has been traveling for work frequently lately and is rarely home.
长久 cháng jiǔ HSK 6
long-lasting; enduring; for a long time
真正的友谊能够长久地维持下去。zhēn zhèng de yǒu yì néng gòu cháng jiǔ de wéi chí xià qùTrue friendship can be maintained for a long time.
长远 cháng yuǎn HSK 6
long-term; long-range
我们要有长远的眼光。wǒ men yào yǒu cháng yuǎn de yǎn guāngWe need to have a long-term vision.
常 cháng HSK 1
often (one-syllable; bookish or in set phrases: 常去)
我常去那家店wǒ cháng qù nà jiā diànI often go to that shop.
常常 cháng cháng HSK 1
frequently; often
我常常在家做饭wǒ cháng cháng zài jiā zuò fànI often cook at home.
马上 mǎ shàng HSK 1
at once; right away; immediately
我马上来wǒ mǎ shàng láiI'll come right away.
先 xiān HSK 1
first; in advance
你先走吧。nǐ xiān zǒu baYou go first.
一下儿 yí xiàr HSK 1
(do something) once; for a moment
请你看一下儿qǐng nǐ kàn yí xiàrPlease take a look.
有时 yǒu shí HSK 1
sometimes (shorter, written style)
我有时在家做饭。wǒ yǒu shí zài jiā zuò fànI sometimes cook at home.
有时候 yǒu shí hou HSK 1
sometimes (everyday spoken form)
我有时候喝咖啡。wǒ yǒu shí hou hē kā fēiSometimes I drink coffee.
再 zài HSK 1
again; once more
请再说一次。qǐng zài shuō yí cìPlease say it once more.
最后 zuì hòu HSK 1
final; last; finally
他最后一个到tā zuì hòu yí ge dàoHe arrived last.
已经 yǐ jīng HSK 2
already (everyday, spoken and written)
他已经到家了。tā yǐ jīng dào jiā leHe has already arrived home.
一直 yī zhí HSK 2
continuously; always; all along; straight
他一直在等你。tā yì zhí zài děng nǐHe has been waiting for you all along.
刚 gāng HSK 2
just (adverb before a verb: 刚吃完 = have just eaten)
他刚到家就下雨了tā gāng dào jiā jiù xià yǔ leIt started raining just as he got home.
同时 tóng shí HSK 2
at the same time; simultaneously; meanwhile
他们两个人同时到了。tā men liǎng gè rén tóng shí dào leThe two of them arrived at the same time.
永远 yǒng yuǎn HSK 2
forever; always; eternally
我会永远记得这一天。wǒ huì yǒng yuǎn jì de zhè yì tiānI will remember this day forever.
后来 hòu lái HSK 2
afterwards; later
我们后来就成了好朋友。wǒ men hòu lái jiù chéng le hǎo péng youLater we became good friends.
就要 jiù yào HSK 2
about to; will soon
火车就要开了。huǒ chē jiù yào kāi leThe train is about to leave.
随时 suí shí HSK 2
at any time; whenever
有问题可以随时找我。yǒu wèn tí kě yǐ suí shí zhǎo wǒIf you have questions, you can come to me anytime.
早就 zǎo jiù HSK 2
long ago; already
我早就知道这件事了。wǒ zǎo jiù zhī dào zhè jiàn shì leI've known about this for a long time.
平常 píng cháng HSK 2
usually; ordinary; common
他平常都很早起床。tā píng cháng dōu hěn zǎo qǐ chuángHe usually gets up very early.
忽然 hū rán HSK 2
suddenly; all of a sudden
天忽然下起了大雨。tiān hū rán xià qǐ le dà yǔIt suddenly started to rain heavily.
从小 cóng xiǎo HSK 2
from childhood; from a young age
他从小就喜欢音乐。tā cóng xiǎo jiù xǐ huan yīn yuèHe has loved music since childhood.
快要 kuài yào HSK 2
about to; nearly
火车快要开了。huǒ chē kuài yào kāi leThe train is about to leave.
这时候 zhè shí hou HSK 2
at this moment; at this time
这时候外面下起了雨。zhè shí hou wài miàn xià qǐ le yǔAt this moment it started to rain outside.
老是 lǎo shì HSK 2
always; keep (doing sth annoying)
他老是迟到，真让人生气。tā lǎo shì chí dào, zhēn ràng rén shēng qì.He's always late, it's really annoying.
刚刚 gāng gāng HSK 2
just now; only a moment ago (emphatic 刚)
他刚刚出去了。tā gāng gāng chū qù le.He just went out a moment ago.
那会儿 nà huìr HSK 2
back then (very colloquial -r form, northern speech)
那会儿我还是个孩子。nà huìr wǒ hái shì ge hái ziBack then I was still a child.
不一会儿 bù yī huìr HSK 2
in a moment; after a short while
不一会儿他就回来了。bù yí huìr tā jiù huí lái leIn a moment he came back.
快点儿 kuài diǎnr HSK 2
hurry up; do it faster
我们要迟到了，快点儿！wǒ men yào chí dào le kuài diǎnrWe're going to be late, hurry up!
原来 yuán lái HSK 2
originally; formerly; so, as it turns out
原来你也在这儿啊！yuán lái nǐ yě zài zhèr aSo you're here too!
重新 chóng xīn HSK 2
again; anew; once more; re-
这道题我要重新做一次。zhè dào tí wǒ yào chóng xīn zuò yí cìI want to do this problem over again.
经常 jīng cháng HSK 2
often, regularly (the everyday spoken word)
他经常去图书馆看书。tā jīng cháng qù tú shū guǎn kàn shūHe often goes to the library to read.
已 yǐ HSK 3
already (literary short form, written)
会议已于昨天结束了。huì yì yǐ yú zuó tiān jié shù leThe meeting already ended yesterday.
总 zǒng HSK 3
always; general; overall; after all
他上课总是迟到。tā shàng kè zǒng shì chí dàoHe is always late for class.
仍然 réng rán HSK 3
still (state unchanged; neutral, common)
他仍然在等你。tā réng rán zài děng nǐHe is still waiting for you.
仍 réng HSK 3
still; yet
都十点了他仍没起床。dōu shí diǎn le tā réng méi qǐ chuángIt's already ten o'clock and he still hasn't gotten up.
本来 běn lái HSK 3
originally; at first
我本来不想去的。wǒ běn lái bù xiǎng qù deI didn't want to go in the first place.
从来 cóng lái HSK 3
always; (with negative) never
我从来没去过北京。wǒ cóng lái méi qù guo běi jīngI have never been to Beijing.
不断 bù duàn HSK 3
unceasingly; continuously; constantly
他不断努力，终于成功了。tā bú duàn nǔ lì zhōng yú chéng gōng leHe kept working hard and finally succeeded.
慢慢 màn màn HSK 3
slowly; gradually
别着急,慢慢说。bié zháo jí màn màn shuōDon't rush, speak slowly.
立刻 lì kè HSK 3
immediately (common, spoken and written)
听到消息我立刻就来了。tīng dào xiāo xi wǒ lì kè jiù lái leI came at once as soon as I heard the news.
通常 tōng cháng HSK 3
usually; normally; usual
我通常七点起床。wǒ tōng cháng qī diǎn qǐ chuángI usually get up at seven.
赶紧 gǎn jǐn HSK 3
hurriedly; without delay
快下雨了，我们赶紧回家。kuài xià yǔ le wǒ men gǎn jǐn huí jiāIt's about to rain, let's hurry home.
提前 tí qián HSK 3
to bring forward; to do sth ahead of time; in advance
我们提前一天到了。wǒ men tí qián yì tiān dào leWe arrived a day early.
赶快 gǎn kuài HSK 3
quickly; at once; hurry up
快下雨了，我们赶快走吧。kuài xià yǔ le wǒ men gǎn kuài zǒu baIt's about to rain, let's hurry up and go.
始终 shǐ zhōng HSK 3
from beginning to end; all along; consistently
他始终相信自己会成功。tā shǐ zhōng xiāng xìn zì jǐ huì chéng gōngHe has always believed that he will succeed.
至今 zhì jīn HSK 3
up to now; so far; to this day
这个问题至今没有答案。zhè ge wèn tí zhì jīn méi yǒu dá ànThis question has no answer to this day.
整天 zhěng tiān HSK 3
all day long; the whole day
他整天待在家里看电视。tā zhěng tiān dāi zài jiā li kàn diàn shìHe stays home watching TV all day long.
终于 zhōng yú HSK 3
at last; finally; eventually
我终于找到工作了！wǒ zhōng yú zhǎo dào gōng zuò leI finally found a job!
总是 zǒng shì HSK 3
always; all the time
他总是迟到。tā zǒng shì chí dàoHe is always late.
往往 wǎng wǎng HSK 3
often; more often than not; usually
成功往往来自努力。chéng gōng wǎng wǎng lái zì nǔ lìSuccess often comes from hard work.
反复 fǎn fù HSK 3
repeatedly; over and over
这道题他反复算了好几遍。zhè dào tí tā fǎn fù suàn le hǎo jǐ biànHe calculated this problem over and over several times.
早已 zǎo yǐ HSK 3
long since; already long ago
等我到的时候他早已走了。děng wǒ dào de shí hou tā zǎo yǐ zǒu leBy the time I arrived, he had long since left.
突然 tū rán HSK 3
sudden; abrupt; suddenly
天突然下起了大雨。tiān tū rán xià qǐ le dà yǔIt suddenly started raining hard.
定期 dìng qī HSK 3
at regular intervals; periodic
医生建议我定期检查身体。yī shēng jiàn yì wǒ dìng qī jiǎn chá shēn tǐThe doctor advised me to get regular checkups.
曾经 céng jīng HSK 3
once, formerly (standard past experience)
我曾经去过北京。wǒ céng jīng qù guò běi jīngI have been to Beijing before.
连忙 lián máng HSK 3
promptly; hurriedly; at once
看到老师,他连忙站了起来。kàn dào lǎo shī tā lián máng zhàn le qǐ láiSeeing the teacher, he promptly stood up.
曾 céng HSK 4
once, formerly (literary short form)
他曾在北京生活过五年。tā céng zài běi jīng shēng huó guo wǔ niánHe once lived in Beijing for five years.
立即 lì jí HSK 4
immediately (formal; notices, orders)
接到通知后我们立即出发了。jiē dào tōng zhī hòu wǒ men lì jí chū fā leAfter receiving the notice, we set off immediately.
即将 jí jiāng HSK 4
to be about to; on the verge of; soon
新学期即将开始了。xīn xué qī jí jiāng kāi shǐ leThe new semester is about to begin.
依然 yī rán HSK 4
still, just as before (literary, after time passes)
过了这么多年，她依然那么美。guò le zhè me duō nián tā yī rán nà me měiAfter so many years, she is still that beautiful.
尽快 jǐn kuài HSK 4
as quickly as possible; as soon as possible
请你尽快回复我。qǐng nǐ jǐn kuài huí fù wǒPlease reply to me as soon as possible.
临时 lín shí HSK 4
temporary; at the last moment; interim
公司临时决定明天开会。gōng sī lín shí jué dìng míng tiān kāi huìThe company decided at the last minute to hold a meeting tomorrow.
逐渐 zhú jiàn HSK 4
gradually (written; step-by-step process)
天气逐渐暖和起来了。tiān qì zhú jiàn nuǎn huo qǐ lái leThe weather is gradually getting warmer.
从此 cóng cǐ HSK 4
from now on; since then; henceforth
从此他再也没回过家乡。cóng cǐ tā zài yě méi huí guò jiā xiāngFrom then on he never returned to his hometown.
多次 duō cì HSK 4
many times; repeatedly
我多次提醒他要小心。wǒ duō cì tí xǐng tā yào xiǎo xīnI reminded him to be careful many times.
渐渐 jiàn jiàn HSK 4
gradually (spoken; slow natural change)
天渐渐黑了下来。tiān jiàn jiàn hēi le xià láiThe sky gradually grew dark.
事先 shì xiān HSK 4
in advance; beforehand
请你事先通知我一声。qǐng nǐ shì xiān tōng zhī wǒ yì shēngPlease let me know in advance.
来不及 lái bu jí HSK 4
there's not enough time; too late to
再不出发我们就来不及了。zài bù chū fā wǒ men jiù lái bu jí leIf we don't set off now, we won't make it in time.
准时 zhǔn shí HSK 4
on time; punctual
他每天都准时上班。tā měi tiān dōu zhǔn shí shàng bānHe goes to work on time every day.
推迟 tuī chí HSK 4
to postpone; to put off; to defer
因为下雨，比赛推迟到明天。yīn wèi xià yǔ bǐ sài tuī chí dào míng tiānBecause of the rain, the match was postponed to tomorrow.
来得及 lái de jí HSK 4
to have enough time; still make it in time
现在出发还来得及吗？xiàn zài chū fā hái lái de jí maIs there still enough time if we leave now?
按时 àn shí HSK 4
on time; on schedule
请你按时完成作业。qǐng nǐ àn shí wán chéng zuò yèPlease finish your homework on time.
纷纷 fēn fēn HSK 4
one after another; in succession
大家听了都纷纷举手发言。dà jiā tīng le dōu fēn fēn jǔ shǒu fā yánAfter hearing it, everyone raised their hands to speak one after another.
逐步 zhú bù HSK 4
step by step; progressively
他的病情正在逐步好转。tā de bìng qíng zhèng zài zhú bù hǎo zhuǎnHis condition is gradually improving.
一再 yī zài HSK 4
repeatedly; again and again
他一再向我道歉。tā yí zài xiàng wǒ dào qiànHe apologized to me again and again.
陆续 lù xù HSK 4
successively; one after another
客人们陆续到了。kè rén men lù xù dào leThe guests arrived one after another.
率先 shuài xiān HSK 4
to take the lead; to be the first to
他率先举手回答问题。tā shuài xiān jǔ shǒu huí dá wèn tíHe was the first to raise his hand to answer.
再三 zài sān HSK 4
over and over again; again and again
我再三提醒他别迟到。wǒ zài sān tí xǐng tā bié chí dàoI reminded him again and again not to be late.
急忙 jí máng HSK 4
hastily; in a hurry
听到消息他急忙跑了出去。tīng dào xiāo xi tā jí máng pǎo le chū qùOn hearing the news he hurried out.
再次 zài cì HSK 5
once again; one more time
我想再次感谢大家的帮助wǒ xiǎng zài cì gǎn xiè dà jiā de bāng zhùI would like to once again thank everyone for their help.
回头 huí tóu HSK 5
to turn one's head; later; by and by
这件事我们回头再谈吧。zhè jiàn shì wǒ men huí tóu zài tán baLet's talk about this matter later.
时机 shí jī HSK 5
opportunity; opportune moment; timing
现在正是投资的好时机。xiàn zài zhèng shì tóu zī de hǎo shí jīNow is a good opportunity to invest.
此时 cǐ shí HSK 5
now; at this moment; at present
此时外面正下着大雨。cǐ shí wài miàn zhèng xià zhe dà yǔAt this moment it is raining heavily outside.
随后 suí hòu HSK 5
soon after; subsequently
他先走了，我随后就到。tā xiān zǒu le wǒ suí hòu jiù dàoHe left first, and I arrived soon after.
偶尔 ǒu ěr HSK 5
occasionally; once in a while; sometimes
他偶尔会来这里喝杯咖啡。tā ǒu ěr huì lái zhè lǐ hē bēi kā fēiHe occasionally comes here for a cup of coffee.
一下子 yí xià zi HSK 5
all at once; all of a sudden
他一下子就明白了。tā yí xià zi jiù míng bai leHe understood all at once.
一向 yí xiàng HSK 5
consistently; all along; always
他一向对人很客气。tā yí xiàng duì rén hěn kè qiHe has always been very polite to people.
依旧 yī jiù HSK 5
as before; still; as usual
多年过去，这里依旧那么美。duō nián guò qù zhè lǐ yī jiù nà me měiMany years have passed, yet this place is still so beautiful.
总算 zǒng suàn HSK 5
at long last; finally
等了半天，他总算来了。děng le bàn tiān tā zǒng suàn lái leAfter waiting a long time, he finally came.
偶然 ǒu rán HSK 5
by chance; accidental; occasionally
我偶然在路上遇到了老同学。wǒ ǒu rán zài lù shang yù dào le lǎo tóng xuéI ran into an old classmate on the street by chance.
当场 dāng chǎng HSK 5
on the spot; at the scene
小偷当场被警察抓住了。xiǎo tōu dāng chǎng bèi jǐng chá zhuā zhù leThe thief was caught on the spot by the police.
近来 jìn lái HSK 5
lately, of late (written style; rare in speech)
近来天气变化很大。jìn lái tiān qì biàn huà hěn dàThe weather has changed a lot recently.
原先 yuán xiān HSK 5
originally; former; at first
我原先的计划完全变了。wǒ yuán xiān de jì huà wán quán biàn leMy original plan has completely changed.
不停 bù tíng HSK 5
incessantly; without stopping
外面的雨下个不停。wài miàn de yǔ xià ge bù tíngThe rain outside keeps falling without stopping.
仍旧 réng jiù HSK 5
still; as before; yet
过了这么久他仍旧没变。guò le zhè me jiǔ tā réng jiù méi biànAfter so long he still hasn't changed.
时常 shí cháng HSK 5
often, from time to time (written style)
他时常想起小时候的事。tā shí cháng xiǎng qǐ xiǎo shí hou de shìHe often thinks of things from his childhood.
不曾 bù céng HSK 5
have never; has not ever
我不曾去过那么远的地方。wǒ bù céng qù guò nà me yuǎn de dì fangI have never been to such a faraway place.
不时 bù shí HSK 5
from time to time; now and then
他不时看看窗外的天空。tā bù shí kàn kan chuāng wài de tiān kōngHe glances at the sky outside from time to time.
先后 xiān hòu HSK 5
one after another; in succession; order of priority
他先后去过很多国家。tā xiān hòu qù guò hěn duō guó jiāHe has visited many countries one after another.
一口气 yì kǒu qì HSK 5
in one breath; at a stretch; without a break
他一口气跑完了整个马拉松。tā yì kǒu qì pǎo wán le zhěng gè mǎ lā sōngHe ran the whole marathon in one go.
接连 jiē lián HSK 5
in a row; in succession; on end
他接连失败了好几次。tā jiē lián shī bài le hǎo jǐ cìHe failed several times in a row.
为止 wéi zhǐ HSK 5
until; up to (used with 到/至)
到目前为止一切都很顺利。dào mù qián wéi zhǐ yí qiè dōu hěn shùn lìSo far, everything has gone smoothly.
暂时 zàn shí HSK 5
temporary; for the time being
这个问题暂时还解决不了。zhè ge wèn tí zàn shí hái jiě jué bu liǎoThis problem can't be solved for the time being.
最终 zuì zhōng HSK 6
final; ultimate; in the end
经过讨论，我们最终做出了决定。jīng guò tǎo lùn wǒ men zuì zhōng zuò chū le jué dìngAfter discussion, we finally made a decision.
不再 bú zài HSK 6
no more; no longer
从那以后，他不再相信任何人。cóng nà yǐ hòu tā bú zài xiāng xìn rèn hé rénFrom then on, he no longer trusted anyone.
原 yuán HSK 6
original; former; primary
这本书的原文是英文的。zhè běn shū de yuán wén shì yīng wén de.The original text of this book is in English.
一时 yī shí HSK 6
for a while; momentarily; for the moment
我一时想不起他的名字。wǒ yì shí xiǎng bu qǐ tā de míng ziI can't recall his name for the moment.
从没 cóng méi HSK 6
never (in the past)
我从没去过这么远的地方。wǒ cóng méi qù guò zhè me yuǎn de dì fangI've never been to such a faraway place.
从不 cóng bù HSK 6
never; at no time
他从不迟到，总是很准时。tā cóng bù chí dào zǒng shì hěn zhǔn shíHe is never late; he is always right on time.
此次 cǐ cì HSK 6
this time; on this occasion
此次会议讨论了很多重要问题。cǐ cì huì yì tǎo lùn le hěn duō zhòng yào wèn tíThis meeting discussed many important issues.
开头 kāi tóu HSK 6
beginning; to begin; at the start
这篇文章的开头写得很吸引人。zhè piān wén zhāng de kāi tóu xiě de hěn xī yǐn rénThe beginning of this article is written very engagingly.
一贯 yí guàn HSK 6
consistent; all along; from start to finish
他一贯认真负责。tā yí guàn rèn zhēn fù zéHe has always been conscientious and responsible.
赶忙 gǎn máng HSK 6
hurriedly; to hasten to
听到消息他赶忙跑了过来。tīng dào xiāo xi tā gǎn máng pǎo le guò láiOn hearing the news, he hurried over.
时而 shí ér HSK 6
from time to time; now... now...
天空时而晴朗，时而阴沉。tiān kōng shí ér qíng lǎng shí ér yīn chénThe sky is now clear, now overcast.
时时 shí shí HSK 6
constantly; from time to time
他时时提醒自己不要骄傲。tā shí shí tí xǐng zì jǐ bú yào jiāo àoHe constantly reminds himself not to be arrogant.
首次 shǒu cì HSK 6
the first time; for the first time
这是他首次出国旅行。zhè shì tā shǒu cì chū guó lǚ xíngThis is his first time traveling abroad.
往后 wǎng hòu HSK 6
from now on; in the future
往后的日子还长，别灰心。wǎng hòu de rì zi hái cháng bié huī xīnThere are still many days ahead; don't lose heart.
眼看 yǎn kàn HSK 6
soon; in a moment; to watch helplessly
眼看天就要黑了，我们得快走。yǎn kàn tiān jiù yào hēi le wǒ men děi kuài zǒuIt's about to get dark; we must hurry.
依次 yī cì HSK 6
in order; one by one
请大家依次上台领奖。qǐng dà jiā yī cì shàng tái lǐng jiǎngPlease come up to the stage in order to receive your prizes.
早晚 zǎo wǎn HSK 6
sooner or later; morning and evening
谎话早晚会被揭穿。huǎng huà zǎo wǎn huì bèi jiē chuānLies will be exposed sooner or later.
常年 cháng nián HSK 6
all year round; for years on end
山顶常年被积雪覆盖。shān dǐng cháng nián bèi jī xuě fù gàiThe mountaintop is covered with snow all year round.
待会儿 dāi huìr HSK 6
in a moment; later; shortly
待会儿我给你打电话。dāi huìr wǒ gěi nǐ dǎ diàn huàI'll call you in a moment.
定时 dìng shí HSK 6
at a fixed time; to set a timer
这台空调可以定时开关。zhè tái kōng tiáo kě yǐ dìng shí kāi guānThis air conditioner can be set to turn on and off on a timer.

FAQ

How many Chinese telling time words are in this list?

199 words, including HSK 1: 31, HSK 2: 40, HSK 3: 36, HSK 4: 28, HSK 5: 35, HSK 6: 29. Every word has playable native audio and example sentences.

Are these words useful for the HSK?

Yes — every word is tagged with its HSK level (HSK 1–6 or 7+), so you can prioritise words for your target level.

What is the best way to memorise them?

Learn them as a scene group with spaced repetition: listen and repeat, study the example sentence, review the next day. The companion app has built-in SRS and four quiz types.

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