Chinese Time Expressions and Connectors

Vocabulary flashcards covering Chinese sequential connectives, temporal categories, frequency adverbs, relative days, parts of the day, and weeks/holidays.

首先 / 先 (shǒuxiān / xiān)

First / Firstly (Example: 我先刷牙，再吃早饭。 - I brush my teeth first, then eat breakfast.)

然后 (ránhòu)

Then / After that (Example: 我们去公园，然后去看电影。 - We go to the park, then go watch a movie.)

接着 (jiēzhe)

Next / Following that (Example: 他做完作业，接着就去睡觉了。 - He finished his homework, and next went to sleep.)

……以后 (…yǐhòu)

After… (Example: 放学以后，我常踢足球。 - After school, I often play football.)

……以前 (…yǐqián)

Before… (Example: 睡觉以前，我喜欢看书。 - Before sleeping, I like to read books.)

……的时候 (…de shíhou)

When… / At the time of… (Example: 我小的时候住在上海。 - When I was young, I lived in Shanghai.)

一边……一边…… (yìbiān… yìbiān…)

While doing… (simultaneously) (Example: 她喜欢一边听音乐一边做作业。 - She likes doing homework while listening to music.)

最后 (zuìhòu)

Finally / Lastly (Example: 最后，我们一起回家了。 - Finally, we went home together.)

以前 / 过去 (yǐqián / guòqù)

In the past / Before (Syllabus Category: Past)

最近 (zuìjìn)

Recently / Lately (Syllabus Category: Recent past)

有一天 (yǒu yì tiān)

One day (in a story) (Syllabus Category: Narrative past)

刚才 (gāngcái)

Just now (Syllabus Category: Immediate past)

现在 / 目前 (xiànzài / mùqián)

Now / Currently (Syllabus Category: Present)

现代 (xiàndài)

Modern times (Syllabus Category: Present era)

马上 / 立刻 (mǎshàng / lìkè)

Immediately / Right away (Syllabus Category: Immediate future)

快要……了 (kuàiyào… le)

About to… / Soon (Syllabus Category: Near future)

以后 / 将来 (yǐhòu / jiānglái)

In the future / Later (Syllabus Category: Future)

每天 / 每年 (měi tiān / měi nián)

Every day / every year, often paired with 都 (dōu) before the verb.

总是 (zǒngshì)

Always.

常常 / 经常 (chángcháng / jīngcháng)

Often / frequently.

一般 / 通常 (yìbān / tōngcháng)

Usually / generally.

有时候 (yǒu shíhou)

Sometimes.

偶尔 (ǒu'ěr)

Occasionally.

从来不 / 从没 (cónglái bù / cóng méi)

Never (used for habits vs. past experiences).

前天 (qiántiān)

Day before yesterday.

昨天 (zuótiān)

Yesterday.

今天 (jīntiān)

Today.

明天 (míngtiān)

Tomorrow.

后天 (hòutiān)

Day after tomorrow.

早上 (zǎoshang)

Early morning.

上午 (shàngwǔ)

Morning.

中午 (zhōngwǔ)

Noon.

下午 (xiàwǔ)

Afternoon.

晚上 (wǎnshang)

Evening.

夜里 (yèlǐ)

At night.

上个星期 (shàng ge xīngqī)

Last week.

这个星期 (zhège xīngqī)

This week.

下个星期 (xià ge xīngqī)

Next week.

周末 (zhōumò)

Weekend.

寒假 (hánjià)

Winter holiday.

暑假 (shǔjià)

Summer holiday.