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March 24, 2026
中午zhōngwǔ(zhong1wu3)
中午 (zhōngwǔ) refers to the time of day around noon or midday, typically between 11 AM and 1 PM. It is a common term used in daily conversations and is often associated with meal times, particularly lunch.
Frequency#3366DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, lunch is an important meal, often enjoyed with family or colleagues, and 中午 is a common time for businesses to take a break for this meal.
Memory Tip
Think of 中 (middle) as the center of a clock, and 午 (afternoon) as when the sun is at its highest point, marking the middle of the day. Imagine a sun directly overhead at noon, shining brightly in the middle of the sky.
Meanings of 中午
zhōngwǔ(zhong1wu3)
1noon
2midday
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 中午
中午Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
时间词time word (t.)Part of Speech
#3366Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L1HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 中午
Podcast: 中午
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AI Study Notes for 中午
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 中 (middle) as the center of a clock, and 午 (afternoon) as when the sun is at its highest point, marking the middle of the day. Imagine a sun directly overhead at noon, shining brightly in the middle of the sky.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 中午 with 下午 (xiàwǔ), which means afternoon. 中午 is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, often in phrases like '中午吃饭' (have lunch at noon).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 1 word, 中午 connects with other time-related vocabulary like 早上 (morning) and 晚上 (evening). Focus on using it in context, especially in sentences about daily routines.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, lunch is an important meal, often enjoyed with family or colleagues, and 中午 is a common time for businesses to take a break for this meal.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 中午 with 下午. For example, saying '我中午去工作' (I go to work at noon) is correct, while '我下午去工作' (I go to work at noon) is incorrect if you mean to say afternoon.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 中午
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Grammar Patterns of 中午
中午 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
到____时分北风会加强到6级。
Northerly winds will increase to force six by midday.
Beyond the windows, a November midday was uniformly grey.
10
中午刚过，天就放晴了。
zhōng wǔ gāng guò， ， tiān jiù fàng qíng。
By early afternoon the weather had brightened.
Cultural Notes for 中午
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, lunch is an important meal, often enjoyed with family or colleagues, and 中午 is a common time for businesses to take a break for this meal.
Frequently Asked Questions about 中午
中午 typically refers to the time around noon, specifically between 11 AM and 1 PM.
Yes, 中午 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, so it's appropriate for letters.
No, 中午 refers specifically to noon, while 下午 refers to the afternoon.
