traditional two-hour period; time
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesnoun
traditional Chinese unit of time (one twelfth of a day; two hours)
Each two-hour period is named after one of the twelve Earthly Branches (地支), beginning with 子时 (11 PM – 1 AM) and followed by 丑时, 寅时, etc.
Bàn半
yè夜
shí十
yī一
diǎn点
dào到
yī一
diǎn点
shì是
zǐ子
shí时
，
shì是
dì第
yī一
gè个
shí时
chen辰
。
Eleven PM to one AM is the Zǐ hour, the first two-hour period.
Wǔ午
shí时
xiāng相
dāng当
yú于
xiàn现
zài在
de的
zhōng中
wǔ午
shí十
yī一
diǎn点
dào到
yī一
diǎn点
。
The Wǔ hour corresponds to eleven AM to one PM in modern time.
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Gǔ古
dài代
yòng用
shí十
èr二
gè个
shí时
chen辰
lái来
biǎo表
shì示
yī一
tiān天
de的
shí时
jiān间
。
In ancient times, twelve two-hour periods were used to indicate the time of day.
noun
time; hour; moment
Used in spoken language to indicate the time of day, often implying that it is getting late or that a specific moment has arrived.
Shí时
chen辰
bù不
zǎo早
le了
，
kuài快
shuì睡
ba吧
。
It's getting late; go to sleep soon.
Xiàn现
zài在
shì是
shén什
me么
shí时
chen辰
le了
？
What time is it now?
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Nǐ你
xuǎn选
de的
zhè这
liáng良
chén辰
jí吉
shí时
，
guǒ果
zhēn真
shì是
hǎo好
shí时
chen辰
。
This auspicious time you chose is truly a good hour.