小时
xiǎoshi
Hour · trad. 小時
小时 (xiǎoshí) is the standard word for "hour" in Mandarin Chinese, referring to a duration of sixty minutes. It is used to express lengths of time.
What does 小时 (xiǎoshi) mean?
小时 (xiǎoshi) means “hour” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “small time.”
When to use it
Neutral and widely used. It's the most common way to refer to a duration of an hour. Another common, slightly more colloquial term is 钟头 (zhōngtóu).
How to pronounce it
Sounds like “shyao-SHIR.” The first syllable has a dipping third tone, and the second is a rising second tone.
Other ways to say it
- 一个小时yī ge xiǎoshione hour
- 钟头zhōngtouhour (colloquial)
- 几小时jǐ xiǎoshiseveral hours / how many hours
Examples
我等了两个小时。
wǒ děng le liǎng ge xiǎoshi.
I waited for two hours.
电影还有一个小时才开始。
diànyǐng hái yǒu yī ge xiǎoshi cái kāishǐ.
The movie won't start for another hour.
他每天工作八个小时。
tā měitiān gōngzuò bā ge xiǎoshi.
He works eight hours every day.
Pro tip: Remember to use a measure word, usually 个 (gè), before 小时 when specifying a number, such as 两个小时 (liǎng gè xiǎoshí) for "two hours."
Related phrases
晚上 · Evening or night分钟 · Minute明天 · Tomorrow
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