分钟
Traditional: 分鐘
fēn zhōng HSK 1

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

我有二分钟。
Wǒ yǒu èr fēnzhōng.
I have two minutes.
这很快,一分钟。
Zhè hěn kuài, yī fēnzhōng.
This is fast, one minute.
分钟很少。
Fēnzhōng hěn shǎo.
The minutes are few.
我五分钟后就好。
Wǒ wǔ fēnzhōng hòu jiù hǎo.
I will be ready in five minutes.
等一下,我得找钥匙。
Děng yīxià, wǒ děi zhǎo yàoshi.
Wait a minute, I need to find my keys.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of 分 (fēn) as 'dividing' an hour and 钟 (zhōng) as 'clock'—together, they 'divide the clock' into minutes. You can also associate it with the phrase '分钟' sounding like 'fun zone' to remember it's about time for fun activities.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is neutral in tone and used in both formal and informal contexts, as well as in spoken and written Chinese. It is commonly used in everyday situations to discuss time, schedules, or durations, such as in appointments, travel, or cooking instructions.

📖 Grammar Points

分钟 is typically used after a numeral and before a verb or time-related particle. Common structures include: [Number] + 分钟 + 后/前 (e.g., 五分钟后 meaning 'after five minutes'), or [Number] + 分钟 + Verb (e.g., 走十分钟 meaning 'walk for ten minutes'). It does not require a measure word when counting minutes.

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, punctuality is often valued, so using 分钟 precisely in time-related expressions is common in social and professional settings. However, flexibility with time (e.g., saying '几分钟' vaguely) may occur in informal contexts among friends.

🔄 Similar Words

分钟 is often compared to 分 (fēn), which can also mean 'minute' but is more abstract or used in technical contexts (e.g., 三点十分 for 3:10). 分钟 is more explicit for durations (e.g., 五分钟 for five minutes), while 刻 (kè) means 'quarter' of an hour (15 minutes), and 秒 (miǎo) means 'second'.

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