下午
xià wǔ HSK 1

English Meaning

Categories

📚 Example Sentences

下午很好。
Xiàwǔ hěn hǎo.
The afternoon is very good.
我下午在。
Wǒ xiàwǔ zài.
I am here in the afternoon.
下午吃饭。
Xiàwǔ chīfàn.
Eat in the afternoon.
我们下午见面。
Wǒmen xiàwǔ jiànmiàn.
We will meet in the afternoon.
预约在下午三点。
Yùyuē zài xiàwǔ sān diǎn.
The appointment is at three p.m.

💡 Memory Tip

Break down the characters: 下 (xià) means 'down' or 'below,' and 午 (wǔ) means 'noon.' Think of 下午 as the time 'after noon' or when the sun starts to go 'down' from its peak at noon.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is neutral and used in all contexts—formal and informal, spoken and written. It is commonly used to specify when an event occurs, ask about time, or make plans. For example, '今天下午' (today afternoon) or '明天下午' (tomorrow afternoon).

📖 Grammar Points

下午 is primarily used as a time noun. It often appears at the beginning of a sentence or after a subject to indicate when an action happens. Structure examples: 'Subject + 下午 + Verb' (我下午学习) or 'Time Phrase + 下午' (今天下午).

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, 下午 may be associated with routines like 午休 (afternoon rest) or 下午茶 (afternoon tea), though these are not universal. The exact boundaries of 下午 can be flexible based on context.

🔄 Similar Words

Similar time words include 中午 (zhōngwǔ, 'noon' or 'midday,' around 11 AM–1 PM) and 傍晚 (bàngwǎn, 'dusk' or 'early evening'). 下午 follows 中午 and precedes 傍晚 in the daily timeline.

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