下次
xià cì
In Chinese, 'next time' is expressed as 下次 (xià cì).
下次 is a straightforward way to say 'next time' in Mandarin Chinese. If you wish to imply 'next time' in a more general sense, such as 'later' or 'in the future', you may use 以后.
Meaning: on the following occasion (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of the character 次, which means 'time' in the sense of an occurrence or an instance.
Which one should you use?
While 下次 is the standard way to say 'next time', 下回 is a colloquial alternative used in conversation between friends or acquaintances. Additionally, the phrase 下次见 is an informal way to say 'see you next time'.
How does it change in a sentence?
下次 functions as a noun or an adverbial phrase in a sentence and is often placed at the beginning of a sentence or directly before the verb.
How do you pronounce it?
xià cì
Did you know?
- In social contexts, saying 下次 to mean 'next time' can sometimes be a polite way to decline an invitation without saying 'no'. It functions as a social lubricant to save 'face' for both parties.
- The character 下 in 下次 means 'down' or 'below'. In Chinese, time is often conceptualized vertically, where the 'next' event is seen as being 'below' the current one on a list.
- The character 次 does not just mean 'time' or 'occurrence'. It can also mean 'secondary' or 'inferior', as in 次品 for 'substandard goods'.
Examples in context
- 下次請晚一點到。Please arrive a bit later next time.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of 下次 when requesting a different time.Tatoeba #5410863 by egg0073, translation #5573355 by n1ls
- 希望下次能够有效。I hope it'll work next time.This sentence shows how to use 下次 when expressing hope for a future result.Tatoeba #10871957 by gli315400, translation #10019103 by sundown
- 萨米下次会做得更好。Sami will do much better next time.This sentence demonstrates using 下次 to describe future performance.Tatoeba #7976840 by olia1204, translation #6456649 by OsoHombre
- 谢谢你的邀请，我下次一定参加。(Xièxiè nǐ de yāoqǐng, wǒ xià cì yídìng cānjiā.)Thank you for the invitation, I will definitely participate next time.
- 这家餐馆很好吃，下回我们一起去吧！(Zhè jiā cānguǎn hěn hǎochī, xià huí wǒmen yìqǐ qù ba!)This restaurant is delicious, let's go together next time!
- 好的，下次见！(Hǎo de, xià cì jiàn!)Alright, see you next time!
- 22 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a missed social event.
- 志强 Zhiqiang下次再一起去吧。Xiàcì zài yīqǐ qù ba.Let's go together next time.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen好，下次我一定準時。Hǎo, xiàcì wǒ yīdìng zhǔnshí.Okay, I will definitely be on time next time.
- 志强 Zhiqiang沒問題，那我們下次再約。Méi wèntí, nà wǒmen xiàcì zài yuē.No problem, let's make plans again next time.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen下次見！Xiàcì jiàn!See you next time!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
