Introduction: Mastering Time in Mandarin

Talking about when things happen is one of the most important parts of learning Chinese. Whether you are arranging to meet a friend at the cinema, talking about your daily routine, or describing a holiday, you need to know your dates, times, and how often you do things. In this chapter, we will break down the building blocks of time for your AQA GCSE, from basic numbers to the specific word orders that will help you sound like a pro.

1. The Building Blocks: Numbers up to 1 Million

To tell the time or say a date, you must know your numbers. In the AQA syllabus, you are expected to handle numbers up to 1,000,000.

Basic Units:
10 = 十 (shí)
100 = 百 (bǎi)
1,000 = 千 (qiān)
10,000 = 万 (wàn) — Note: Chinese counts in units of four zeros!
100,000 = 十万 (shí wàn)
1,000,000 = 一百万 (yī bǎi wàn)

Quick Tip: To make ordinal numbers (like 1st, 2nd, 3rd), simply add 第 (dì) before the number. For example: 第一 (dì yī) = First.

2. Dates: The "Big to Small" Rule

In English, we often say "Monday the 5th of June." In Chinese, the order is always Biggest to Smallest:

\( \text{Year} \rightarrow \text{Month} \rightarrow \text{Day} \rightarrow \text{Day of the Week} \)

Years, Months, and Days

Years (年 - nián): Just say the individual digits followed by 年. For example, 2024 is 二零二四年 (èr líng èr sì nián).
Months (月 - yuè): Simply Number + 月. January is 一月, December is 十二月.
Days (号 - hào / 日 - rì): In spoken Chinese, use 号. In writing, use 日. The 15th is 十五号.

Days of the Week

There are three ways to say "week," but 星期 (xīng qī) is the most common for GCSE. Simply add a number 1–6 for Monday–Saturday:

  • Monday: 星期一 (xīng qī yī)
  • Saturday: 星期六 (xīng qī liù)
  • Sunday: 星期天 or 星期日 (xīng qī tiān / rì) — Remember: Sunday doesn't use a number!

3. Telling the Time

Just like dates, telling the time follows a logical pattern. Here are the key words you need:

  • 点 (diǎn) = o'clock
  • 分 (fēn) = minute
  • 半 (bàn) = half past
  • 刻 (kè) = a quarter (15 minutes)
  • 现在 (xiàn zài) = now

Examples:
8:00 — 八点
8:05 — 八点零五分
8:15 — 八点一刻 or 八点十五分
8:30 — 八点半
8:45 — 八点三刻 or 九点差一刻 (quarter to nine)

Common Mistake: For 2 o'clock, always use 两点 (liǎng diǎn), never 二点!

4. Frequency: How Often?

To describe your habits (Theme 1: Identity and Culture) or school life (Theme 3), you need frequency adverbs. These usually go before the verb.

Foundation Tier

  • 常常 (cháng cháng) = often
  • 天天 (tiān tiān) = every day
  • 有时候 (yǒu shí hou) = sometimes
  • 不常 (bù cháng) = not often

Higher Tier Extension

  • 经常 (jīng cháng) = frequently / regularly
  • 从来不 (cóng lái bù) = never
  • 总是 (zǒng shì) = always

The "Every" Pattern: Use 每 (měi) + Measure Word + Time. For example: 每个星期 (every week) or 每年 (every year).

5. Duration: How Long?

There is a difference between "the time something happens" and "how long it lasts."

Time Point: 三点 (3 o'clock)
Time Duration: 三个小时 (three hours)

To ask "how long," Foundation students use 几点 (what time) or 几天 (how many days). Higher Tier students should use 多长时间 (duō cháng shí jiān) or 多久 (duō jiǔ).

Sentence Structure for Duration:
\( \text{Subject} + \text{Verb} + \text{Duration} \)
Example: 我学了两个小时。 (I studied for two hours.)

6. The Golden Rule: Word Order

This is the most important part for your Writing and Speaking exams. In English, we put time at the end: "I go to the park at 10 o'clock." In Chinese, the time MUST come before the action.

The Formula:
Subject + Time + [Location] + Verb + Object

Example: 我 昨天晚上 十点 睡觉了。
(I + last night + 10 o'clock + slept.)

Wait! What about "When?"
To ask "when," use 什么时候 (shén me shí hou). It follows the same word order rule: 你什么时候去中国？ (You when go to China?)

7. Higher Tier: Advanced Time Structures

If you are aiming for Grades 7–9, use these structures to impress the examiner:

  • 一...就... (yī... jiù...) = As soon as... then...
    Example: 我一回家就做作业。 (As soon as I get home, I do homework.)
  • ...的时候 (...de shí hou) = When / During the time of...
    Example: 我小的时候... (When I was little...)
  • 先...然后... (xiān... rán hòu...) = First... then...

Quick Review

1. Dates: Go from Year to Month to Day.
2. Time: Put the time before the verb.
3. Sunday: It’s 星期天, not 星期七!
4. 2 o'clock: Use 两点, not 二点.
5. Frequency: Words like 常常 go before the verb.

Cross-reference: For more on how to use these in sentences, see the "Connectives, negatives and comparisons" chapter.