Temporal expressions anchor actions in time and guide listeners when events happen, recur, or will happen. This guide covers common phrases for time, frequency, and sequences.
Time Expressions
Time expressions specify exact moments or general times when an event occurs. They often appear at the beginning of a sentence to set the scene.
| Hanzi Character(s) | Pinyin Word(s) | English Translation(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 昨天 | zuótiān | yesterday | |
| 今天 | jīntiān | today | |
| 明天 | míngtiān | tomorrow | |
| 现在 | xiànzài | now | |
| 上午 | shàngwǔ | morning (before noon) | |
| 下午 | xiàwǔ | afternoon | |
| 晚上 | wǎnshàng | evening / night |
I went to the park yesterday.
Frequency Expressions
Frequency expressions tell how often an action happens, from habitual routines to occasional events. They help describe habits and planning.
| Hanzi Character(s) | Pinyin Word(s) | English Translation(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 每天 | měitiān | every day | |
| 每周 / 每週 | měi zhōu | every week | |
| 每个月 / 每個月 | měi gè yuè | every month | |
| 有时 / 有時 | yǒu shí | sometimes | |
| 经常 / 經常 | jīngcháng | often | |
| 迟很少 / 很少 | hěn shǎo | rarely | |
| 从来不 / 從來不 | cónglái bù | never |
Sequence Expressions
Sequence expressions show the order of events and signal steps in a process or narrative. They are useful for instructions and recounting what happened.
| Hanzi Character(s) | Pinyin Word(s) | English Translation(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 先 | xiān | first / first of all | |
| 然后 / 然後 | ránhòu | then / afterwards | |
| 接着 / 接著 | jiēzhe | next / to continue | |
| 最后 / 最後 | zuìhòu | finally / in the end | |
| 同时 / 同時 | tóngshí | at the same time | |
| 之后 / 之後 | zhīhòu | after / afterwards |
Duration Expressions
Duration expressions tell how long an action lasts and appear after the verb or at the end of a sentence. They help quantify time spent on activities.
| Hanzi Character(s) | Pinyin Word(s) | English Translation(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 小时 | xiǎoshí | hour(s) | |
| 分钟 / 分鐘 | fēnzhōng | minute(s) | |
| 天 | tiān | day(s) | |
| 周 / 週 | zhōu | week(s) | |
| 年 | nián | year(s) | |
| 一小时 / 一小時 | yī xiǎoshí | one hour |
Summary
Temporal expressions include phrases for exact time, frequency, sequence, and duration. They consistently appear in predictable sentence positions and help listeners situate events in time. Practice using them aloud with real events to internalize their natural order.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025