时间

Learning Chinese: How to Say "Time" in Chinese

Chinese Characters: 时间
Pinyin: shí jiān
Pronunciation: shí1 jiān1
English Translation: Time

Usage:

"时间 (shí jiān)" is the most common way to say "time" in Chinese. It can be used to refer to both specific times and general periods of time.

Example:

Chinese: 现在几点？
Pinyin: Xiàn zài jǐ diǎn?
English: What time is it now?
Variations:

There are a few variations of "时间 (shí jiān)" that you may hear:

时候 (shí hou): Another way to say "time," often used in the context of "it's time to do something."
辰光 (chén guāng): A more poetic way to say "time," often used in literature or poetry.
Tips for Learning:

Practice saying "时间 (shí jiān)" out loud to improve your pronunciation.
Listen to native Chinese speakers saying "time" to get a sense of the natural rhythm and intonation.
Use "时间 (shí jiān)" in your daily conversations to practice using it in context.
Additional Notes:

"时间 (shí jiān)" can be used with measure words to indicate specific periods of time. For example:

一个小时 (yī ge xiǎoshí): one hour
一天 (yī tiān): one day
一年 (yī nián): one year
"时间 (shí jiān)" can also be used in idioms and expressions. For example:

时间就是金钱 (shí jiān jiù shì jīn qián): Time is money.
一分一秒 (yī fēn yī miǎo): Every second counts.
寸金难买寸光阴 (cùn jīn nán mǎi cùn guāng yīn): Time is precious and cannot be bought with money.