Usage note
时间是我们用来安排一天活动的工具，比如几点起床、几点吃饭。
Shíjiān shì wǒmen yòng lái ānpái yī tiān huódòng de gōngjù, bǐrú jǐ diǎn qǐchuáng, jǐ diǎn chīfàn.
Time is a way to plan daily activities, like when to wake up or eat.
Context note
时间常用来谈论日常生活中的事件和活动，比如上学、吃饭或玩耍的时间。
shíjiān cháng lái yòng lái tán lùn rì kāi shēn qínɡ zhōng de jiàn shì hé huó dòng ， bǐ 如 上学 、 吃饭 或 玩耍 的 时间 。
Time is often used to talk about events and activities in daily life, such as school time, mealtime, or playtime.
5 examples
现在是吃饭的时间。
xiàn zài shì chī fàn de shí jiān。
It's time to eat now.
每天早上七点是锻炼时间。
měi tiān zǎo shàng qī diǎn shì duàn liàn shí jiān。
Every morning at seven o'clock is exercise time.
周末的时间可以用来玩耍。
zhōu mò de shí jiān kě yǐ yòng lái wán shuǎ。
Weekend time can be used for play.
昨天是学习时间。
zuó tiān shì xué xí shí jiān。
Yesterday was study time.
今天的时间很宝贵。
jīn tiān de shí jiān hěn bǎo guì。
Today's time is very precious.
5 mini stories
妈妈说早上七点是锻炼时间，所以我们要早点起床。
mā ma shuō zǎo shàng qī diǎn shì duàn liàn shí jiān， suǒ yǐ wǒ men yào zǎo diǎn qǐ chuáng。
Mom says that seven o'clock in the morning is exercise time, so we need to get up early.
爸爸说晚上九点是睡觉时间，所以我们要早点休息。
bà ba shuō wǎn shàng jiǔ diǎn shì shuì jiào shí jiān， suǒ yǐ wǒ men yào zǎo diǎn xiū xi。
Dad says that nine o'clock at night is bedtime, so we need to rest early.
爷爷说每天早上六点是读书时间，所以我们要早点起床。
yé yé shuō měi tiān zǎo shàng liù diǎn shì dú shū shí jiān， suǒ yǐ wǒ men yào zǎo diǎn qǐ chuáng。
Grandpa says that six o'clock in the morning is reading time, so we need to get up early.
奶奶说晚上十点是睡觉时间，所以我们要早点休息。
nǎi nai shuō wǎn shàng shí diǎn shì shuì jiào shí jiān， suǒ yǐ wǒ men yào zǎo diǎn xiū xi。
Grandma says that ten o'clock at night is bedtime, so we need to rest early.
姐姐说每天晚上八点是学习时间，所以我们要早点回家。
jiě jiě shuō měi tiān wǎn shàng bā diǎn shì xué xí shí jiān， suǒ yǐ wǒ men yào zǎo diǎn huí jiā。
Sister says that eight o'clock at night is study time, so we need to go home early.
Mini dialogue
现在几点
A
现在什么时间？
Xiànzài shénme shíjiān?
What time is it now?
B
现在是三点钟。
Xiànzài shì sān diǎn zhōng.
It is three o'clock now.
做作业
A
你做作业要多长时间？
Nǐ zuò zuòyè yào duō cháng shíjiān?
How long do you need to do homework?
B
我要一个小时的时间。
Wǒ yào yí gè xiǎoshí de shíjiān.
I need one hour's time.
Related words and contrasts
contrast
时候
shíhou
time; moment
时候 refers to a specific moment, while 时间 refers to the general concept or duration of time.
related
小时
xiǎoshí
hour
A unit of time, literally 'small time', used to measure 时间.