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Lesson

Time expressions

Read time expressions that appear in stories and dialogue.

intermediatetimecharactersreadingvocabulary

Core words

The first words to learn and practice aloud.

时候
shíhou
time; moment
HSK 1Frequency #82
以前
yǐqián
before
HSK 3Frequency #289
以后
yǐhòu
after
HSK 3Frequency #394
最近
zuì jìn
recently
HSK 3Frequency #593
一直
yīzhí
continuously
HSK 3Frequency #176

Learning order

  1. 1时候 - time; moment
  2. 2以前 - before
  3. 3以后 - after
  4. 4最近 - recently
  5. 5一直 - continuously

Stretch words

Useful extras from the same topic and level.

Optional
之前
zhī qián
before
time · #250
之后
zhī hòu
after
time · #322
到底
dàodǐ
after all
time · #350
当时
dāngshí
at that time
time · #483
晚安
wǎn ān
good night
time · #823
承认
chéngrèn
admit; acknowledge
time · #873

Sentence patterns

今天我去学校。
jīn tiān wǒ qù xué xiào 。
Today I go to school.
明天我再来。
míng tiān wǒ zài lái 。
Tomorrow I will come again.
现在我在家。
xiàn zài wǒ zài jiā 。
Now I am at home.

Example sentences

时候我学习。
shí hòu wǒ xué xí 。
Today I study.
以前我回家。
yǐ qián wǒ huí jiā 。
Later I go home.
以后我吃饭。
yǐ hòu wǒ chī fàn 。
Now I eat a meal.

Mini reading

Short lines that reuse the lesson words in context.

1
今天早上我去学校。
jīn tiān zǎo shàng wǒ qù xué xiào 。
This morning I went to school.
2
下午我在家看书。
xià wǔ wǒ zài jiā kàn shū 。
In the afternoon I read at home.
3
晚上我和家人一起吃饭。
wǎn shàng wǒ hé jiā rén yì qǐ chī fàn 。
In the evening I eat with my family.

Common mistakes

Short reminders that stop the most common mix-ups.

今天 means today, not tomorrow.
jīn tiān m e a n s t o d a y , n o t t o m o r r o w .
Use the right time word.
明天 means tomorrow, not now.
míng tiān m e a n s t o m o r r o w , n o t n o w .
Do not confuse the time words.

Quick questions

When does the learner go to school?
This morning
What does the learner do in the afternoon?
Read at home

Quick quiz

Which meaning matches 时候?

Review assignment

Revisit these items tomorrow, then again in three days. Keep review short and say the words aloud.

时候
shíhou
time; moment
以前
yǐqián
before
以后
yǐhòu
after
Back to lessonsNext: Read a mini story