How common it is
下午 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
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Pronunciation focus
Say xiàwǔ slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
下午用来表示一天中的下午时间。例如，你可以说：今天下午我们去公园玩。
xià wǔ yòng lái bǎo shí yī tiān zhōng de xià wǔ shí jiān。
下午 is used to indicate the afternoon time. For example, you can say: 今天下午我们去公园玩 (Today in the afternoon we go to the park to play).
Context note
下午常用于日常生活中的时间表达，比如放学后、下班后的活动安排。
xià wǔ cháng yòng yú rì kāi shēn qíng zhōng de shí jiān bá da, bǐ 如 放学后、下班后的活动安排。
下午 is commonly used in daily life to express time, such as after school or after work activities.
5 examples
今天下午我们去公园玩。
jīn tiān xià wǔ wǒ men qù gōng yuán wán。
Today in the afternoon we go to the park to play.
妈妈说下午三点钟开始做饭。
mā ma shuō xià wǔ sān diǎn zhōng kāi shǐ zuò fàn。
Mom says they will start cooking at three o'clock in the afternoon.
我们下午两点钟开会。
wǒ men xià wǔ liǎng diǎn zhōng kāi huì。
We have a meeting at two o'clock in the afternoon.
今天下午天气很好。
jīn tiān xià wǔ tiān qì hěn hǎo。
The weather is very nice this afternoon.
下午三点钟我有舞蹈课。
xià wǔ sān diǎn zhōng wǒ yǒu wǔ dǎo kè。
I have a dance class at three o'clock in the afternoon.
5 mini stories
今天下午我们去公园玩。妈妈说下午三点钟开始做饭。
jīn tiān xià wǔ wǒ men qù gōng yuán wán。 mā ma shuō xià wǔ sān diǎn zhōng kāi shǐ zuò fàn。
Today in the afternoon we go to the park to play. Mom says they will start cooking at three o'clock in the afternoon.
我们下午两点钟开会。会议结束后，大家一起去吃晚饭。
wǒ men xià wǔ liǎng diǎn zhōng kāi huì。 huì yì jié shù hòu， dà jiā yì qǐ qù chī wǎn fàn。
We have a meeting at two o'clock in the afternoon. After the meeting, everyone goes to eat dinner together.
今天下午天气很好。我和朋友去逛街。
jīn tiān xià wǔ tiān qì hěn hǎo。 wǒ hé péng yǒu qù guàng jiē。
The weather is very nice this afternoon. I go shopping with friends.
下午三点钟我有舞蹈课。老师说要穿运动服。
xià wǔ sān diǎn zhōng wǒ yǒu wǔ dǎo kè。 lǎo shī shuō yào chuān yùn dòng fú。
I have a dance class at three o'clock in the afternoon. The teacher says to wear sports clothes.
我们下午两点钟开会。会议结束后，大家一起去吃晚饭。
wǒ men xià wǔ liǎng diǎn zhōng kāi huì。 huì yì jié shù hòu， dà jiā yì qǐ qù chī wǎn fàn。
We have a meeting at two o'clock in the afternoon. After the meeting, everyone goes to eat dinner together.