Time Words (Now, Before, After) in Chinese 时间词
shíjiān cí
Time words in Chinese is 时间词 (shí jiān cí).
Also searched for as: now, before after, when, then, soon.
Just now, soon, or at last? 15 essential when it happens words in Mandarin Chinese, with pinyin and English. Open it in the app to hear each word, tick off the ones you know and turn them into flashcards.
Time words are what turn a list of verbs into a story. 刚才 (gāng cái) means 'just now' and points to a moment, while 刚 (gāng) describes something that has only just happened, and 以前 (yǐ qián) and 以后 (yǐ hòu) handle the past and the future. Add 终于 (zhōng yú), 'finally', and 马上 (mǎ shàng), 'right away', and you can tell people exactly what happened and when.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 刚才 | gāng cái | just now |
| 刚 | gāng | just (a moment ago) |
| 现在 | xiàn zài | now |
| 以前 | yǐ qián | before; in the past |
| 以后 | yǐ hòu | after; in the future |
| 后来 | hòu lái | later; afterwards |
| 最近 | zuì jìn | recently |
| 马上 | mǎ shàng | right away |
| 一会儿 | yī huìr | a moment; in a bit |
| 正在 | zhèng zài | in the middle of (doing) |
| 快要 | kuài yào | about to |
| 终于 | zhōng yú | finally |
| 突然 | tū rán | suddenly |
| 早就 | zǎo jiù | long ago; for ages |
| 最后 | zuì hòu | in the end; last |
Usage tips
- Time words go before the verb, usually right after the subject or at the very start: 我最近很忙 (wǒ zuì jìn hěn máng), never at the end as in English 'I've been busy recently'.
- 马上 (mǎ shàng) usually pairs with 就 (jiù), and 快要 (kuài yào) with 了 (le) at the end of the sentence: 我马上就来 (wǒ mǎ shàng jiù lái), 快要下雨了 (kuài yào xià yǔ le).
- 一会儿 (yī huìr) after a verb gives a duration, as in 休息一会儿 (xiū xi yī huìr), 'rest for a bit', but before a verb it means 'in a moment': 一会儿见 (yī huìr jiàn).
Common mistakes
- Mixing up 刚 (gāng) and 刚才 (gāng cái): 刚 is an adverb that sits right before the verb, while 刚才 is a time word that can open the sentence. Say 我刚到 (wǒ gāng dào), 'I've just arrived', but 刚才你去哪儿了？ (gāng cái nǐ qù nǎr le?).
- Using 以后 (yǐ hòu) for 'later' in a story about the past: for what happened next, say 后来 (hòu lái), as in 后来我们成了朋友 (hòu lái wǒ men chéng le péng you). 以后 is for the future or 'after' a specific event.
Mini dialogue
- A你刚才去哪儿了？Nǐ gāng cái qù nǎr le?Where did you go just now?
- B我去超市了，刚回来。Wǒ qù chāo shì le, gāng huí lái.I went to the supermarket. I've just got back.
- A快要下雨了，我们马上走吧。Kuài yào xià yǔ le, wǒ men mǎ shàng zǒu ba.It's about to rain. Let's go right away.
- B好，等一会儿，我在找钥匙。Hǎo, děng yī huìr, wǒ zài zhǎo yào shi.OK, just a moment, I'm looking for my keys.
- A找到了吗？Zhǎo dào le ma?Have you found them?
- B终于找到了！Zhōng yú zhǎo dào le!Finally!
Example sentences
- 你刚才去哪儿了？Where did you go just now?
- 我刚到家。I've just got home.
- 现在几点？What time is it now?
- 我以前住在伦敦。I used to live in London.
- 以后我想去中国工作。In the future I want to work in China.
- 后来我们成了好朋友。Later we became good friends.
- 你最近怎么样？How have you been lately?
- 我马上就来。I'm coming right away.
- 一会儿见！See you in a bit!
- 我正在开会。I'm in a meeting right now.
- 快要下雨了。It's about to rain.
- 我终于找到工作了！I've finally found a job!
- 突然下起了大雨。Suddenly it started pouring.
- 这件事我早就知道了。I've known about this for ages.
- 最后我们决定坐火车。In the end we decided to take the train.
Practise speaking
Ready to use these words? The When it happens speaking island has 8 everyday questions about when it happens to prepare your own answers to.