If you’re looking to learn how to say “day after tomorrow” in Chinese, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we will explore both the formal and informal ways to express this phrase in Mandarin Chinese. While there may be some regional variations, we will focus on the standard Mandarin pronunciation. So, let’s dive in and discover how you can express “day after tomorrow” in various contexts!
Table of Contents
The Formal Way to Say “Day After Tomorrow”
In formal settings or when you want to sound more polite, you can use the term “后天” (hòu tiān) to refer to the day after tomorrow. This phrase is commonly used in written or spoken Mandarin across different Chinese-speaking regions. Let’s break it down to understand how to pronounce it correctly:
Strong: 后天 (hòu tiān)
Now, let’s move on to the informal ways of expressing this phrase!
The Informal Ways to Say “Day After Tomorrow”
When talking to friends or in casual situations, you can use the phrases “大后天” (dà hòu tiān) or “后天的后天” (hòu tiān de hòu tiān) to refer to the day after tomorrow. These informal expressions add a sense of familiarity and are commonly used among native Mandarin speakers. Let’s explore them further:
Example 1: 明天是周三，那大后天就是周五了。
Translation: Tomorrow is Wednesday, so the day after tomorrow will be Friday.
Example 2: 我们见面的日子就在后天的后天。
Translation: The day we meet is the day after tomorrow.
Now that you have an idea of how to say “day after tomorrow” in both formal and informal ways, let’s take a closer look at some regional variations.
Regional Variations
While the variations we discussed above are widely understood across most Chinese-speaking regions, there may be minor differences in pronunciation or usage depending on the area. Let’s explore a couple of examples here:
In Taiwan, some people use “後天” (hòu tiān) in written form, which is similar to the Mandarin version. However, in spoken language, people often use “亞大” (yà dà) as a more colloquial way to refer to the day after tomorrow.
Example 3: 星期四去旅行可是下個禮拜亞大才有空。
Translation: I can only make time for the trip on the day after tomorrow of next week.
In Hong Kong, the colloquial Cantonese phrase for “day after tomorrow” is “後日” (hau6 jat6). However, keep in mind that Mandarin Chinese is the official language in Hong Kong, and you can use the standard Mandarin phrases mentioned earlier without any issues.
Now that you have learned how to say “day after tomorrow” in various ways and explored regional differences, let’s summarize what we’ve covered and provide some final tips.
Summary and Tips
- Formally, you can say “后天” (hòu tiān) to refer to the day after tomorrow.
- Informally, you have options like “大后天” (dà hòu tiān) or “后天的后天” (hòu tiān de hòu tiān).
- In Taiwan, the spoken term for “day after tomorrow” is often “亞大” (yà dà).
- In Hong Kong, the colloquial phrase is “後日” (hau6 jat6) in Cantonese.
- Remember to use the appropriate phrase based on the context and level of formality.
Now that you have a solid understanding of how to say “day after tomorrow” in Chinese, don’t hesitate to practice using these phrases in your conversations. Whether you’re learning Mandarin or want to impress your Chinese-speaking friends, these expressions will undoubtedly come in handy!
Keep in mind that language is a living and evolving entity, and regional variations may continue to emerge. However, armed with the knowledge from this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to communicate effectively when referring to the day after tomorrow in Chinese.
So go ahead and start using your newfound Chinese language skills. Happy learning!
