[Learn basic Chinese with grammar] How to place time words in Chinese sentences

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Where do time words go in Chinese?

In Chinese, time words usually come before the verb. They often appear after the subject, or at the beginning of the sentence.

Pattern	Basic meaning
Subject + Time + Verb	the most common position
Time + Subject + Verb	puts more focus on the time

This is different from English. In Chinese, do not automatically put time words at the end of the sentence.

1. Subject + time word + verb

The most common word order is subject + time word + verb. The time word comes before the action.

Pattern	Meaning
Subject + Time + Verb	who does something, when, then what action

Chinese	English
我下午整理資料。 ♬	I organize the materials in the afternoon.
她週末參加講座。 ♬	She attends a lecture on the weekend.

Here, 下午 ♬ and 週末 ♬ come before the verbs.

2. Time word at the beginning

You can also put the time word at the beginning of the sentence. This often makes the time feel more important or sets the scene first.

Pattern	Meaning
Time + Subject + Verb	when first, then who and what

Chinese	English
明年我們搬到新辦公室。 ♬	Next year, we will move to a new office.
早上店員打開窗簾。 ♬	In the morning, the clerk opens the curtains.

This order is natural when the time is the starting point of the sentence.

3. Do not place time after the verb like English

English often puts time at the end, but Chinese usually puts it before the verb.

Not natural	Natural Chinese
我整理資料下午。	我下午整理資料。 ♬
她參加講座週末。	她週末參加講座。 ♬

The not-natural examples are only for comparison, so they do not need audio.

4. Longer time expressions

Longer time expressions also usually go before the verb. Put the larger time first, then the smaller time.

Time expression	Basic meaning
星期三下午 ♬	Wednesday afternoon
下個月十號 ♬	the tenth of next month

Chinese	English
我們星期三下午討論預算。 ♬	We will discuss the budget on Wednesday afternoon.
下個月十號展覽開幕。 ♬	The exhibition opens on the tenth of next month.

In 星期三下午, the larger time 星期三 comes before the smaller time 下午.

5. With location: time usually comes before place

When a sentence has both time and place, a common order is subject + time + place + verb.

Pattern	Meaning
Subject + Time + Place + Verb	who, when, where, then what action

Chinese	English
我晚上在圖書館查資料。 ♬	I look up materials at the library in the evening.
他明天在櫃台領證件。 ♬	He will pick up the ID at the front desk tomorrow.

This order is very useful for making clear beginner sentences.

Useful words and example sentences