小時 / 小时
xiǎoshí
Hour in Chinese is 小時 / 小时 (xiǎoshí). If unsure, use 小時 / 小时. Wiktionary also lists 鐘頭 / 钟头 (zhōngtóu).
Meaning: time period of sixty minutes (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 小時 / 小时 | xiǎoshí | |
| 鐘頭 / 钟头 | zhōngtóu | informal |
What does it mean word for word?
小時 literally means small time.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
鐘頭 / 钟头 (zhōngtóu) is an informal, colloquial word for hour.
How does it change in a sentence?
小時 does not change for the plural. The number or the context shows how many hours you mean. When counting, the measure word 个 usually comes between the number and 小时.
How do you pronounce it?
Say xiǎoshí with a dipping tone and then a rising tone.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not confuse 小時 with 点. Use 小時 for a length of time and 点 for a clock time such as three o'clock.
Did you know?
- In ancient China, a single unit of time called a 時辰 (shíchén) represented two hours, meaning the modern 小時 (xiǎoshí) is actually half the length of the traditional time unit.
- The colloquial term 鐘頭 / 钟头 (zhōngtóu) literally translates to 'bell head', evoking the image of a bell striking to signal the passing of time.
- The character 時 is composed of a 'sun' radical 日 on the left. This reflects the ancient method of tracking hours by the position of the sun in the sky.
Examples in context
- 一小时One hour
- 两小时Two hours
- 三个半小时Three and a half hours
- 今天五点钟见面。Let's meet at five o'clock today.
- 六点半Six-thirty (half past six)
- 九点半Nine-thirty (half past nine)
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hour” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
