第二天
dì'èrtiān
In Chinese, the phrase "the next day" is translated as 第二天 (dì'èrtiān). Wiktionary also lists 次 (cìrì).
Meaning: the day that follows the one just spoken about (adv)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 第二天 | dì'èrtiān | |
| 次 | cìrì | formal |
Both forms are used to refer to the day that follows the one just spoken about in a sequence of events.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 第二天 literally means "the second day". The character 第 is an ordinal indicator used to turn a number into an ordinal number, such as turning a number into "first", "second", etc.
Which one should you use?
第二天 is the standard way to express the next day in a sequence, while 次日 is a more formal, written version used in literature or news reports.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
次日 is a formal and literary term used in written Chinese, formal speeches or news reports.
How does it change in a sentence?
第二天 functions as a time adverbial. It is typically placed either at the beginning of a clause or immediately after the subject.
How do you pronounce it?
dì'èrtiān
Did you know?
- The character 次 used in the formal term for 'the next day' was originally a pictogram of a person exhaling or sighing.
- While 第二天 literally means 'the second day', it is used even if the day being discussed is the hundredth day of a journey.
Examples in context
- 他星期一去了烏魯木齊，第二天回來了。He went to Urumqi on Monday and came back here the next day.This sentence shows how to use 第二天 to describe a return trip.Tatoeba #5574645 by verdastelo9604, translation #2801783 by FeuDRenais2
- 第二天我的腿很酸。I had sore legs the next day.This sentence illustrates using 第二天 to describe a physical sensation.Tatoeba #616205 by sarah, translation #324977 by CK
- 汤姆星期一来的，第二天返回了。Tom came on Monday and went back home the next day.This sentence demonstrates using 第二天 to describe someone's return.Tatoeba #755846 by U2FS, translation #1204703 by CK
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a recent trip.
- 佳怡 Jiayi你在北京玩得开心吗？Nǐ zài Běijīng wán de kāixīn ma?Did you have fun in Beijing?
- 俊杰 Junjie非常开心，但第二天就开始下雨了。Fēicháng kāixīn, dàn dì-èr tiān jiù kāishǐ xiàyǔ le.Very much, but it started raining the next day.
- 佳怡 Jiayi那太可惜了，你没去长城吗？Nà tài kěxī le, nǐ méi qù Chángchéng ma?That's a pity, did you not go to the Great Wall?
- 俊杰 Junjie没去，我只好在酒店休息。Méi qù, wǒ zhǐ hǎo zài jiǔdiàn xiūxi.I didn't, I just had to rest at the hotel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “the next day” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 次, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
