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March 24, 2026
下午xiàwǔ(xia4wu3)
下午 refers to the afternoon period of the day, typically after 12 PM until around 6 PM. It is commonly used when discussing daily schedules, events, or activities that occur in the latter half of the day.
Frequency#1026DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the afternoon is often associated with practices like '下午茶' (afternoon tea) or a short nap, reflecting the importance of taking breaks during the day. This shows a cultural emphasis on balance between work and rest.
Memory Tip
Think of the character 下午 as '下' (below) and '午' (noon). Imagine looking down at your watch as the noon hour passes and the afternoon begins, reminding you that '下' signifies the time that follows '午' or noon.
Meanings of 下午
xiàwǔ(xia4wu3)
1afternoon
2p.m.
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About 下午
下午Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
时间词time word (t.)Part of Speech
#1026Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L1HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 下午
Podcast: 下午
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AI Study Notes for 下午
Quick Contrast
下午 (afternoon) vs 晚上 (evening) — use 下午 for the period after noon and before evening, while 晚上 refers to the time after sunset.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of the character 下午 as '下' (below) and '午' (noon). Imagine looking down at your watch as the noon hour passes and the afternoon begins, reminding you that '下' signifies the time that follows '午' or noon.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 下午 with 早上 (morning) or 晚上 (evening). It is mostly used in informal contexts but can be appropriate in formal settings when discussing times. Common collocations include '下午茶' (afternoon tea) or '下午三点' (3 PM).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 1 word, 下午 is foundational for discussing time. Learners should focus on using it in simple sentences, like '我下午去商店' (I am going to the store in the afternoon), to build confidence in time-related vocabulary.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the afternoon is often associated with practices like '下午茶' (afternoon tea) or a short nap, reflecting the importance of taking breaks during the day. This shows a cultural emphasis on balance between work and rest.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 下午 with 晚上 (evening) due to similar contexts. For example, saying '我晚上三点去' (I go at 3 PM) instead of '我下午三点去' (I go at 3 PM) is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 下午
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Grammar Patterns of 下午
下午 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.
"Want to spend the afternoon with me?" — "Why not?"
5
请为今天下午的课准备好机器.
qǐng wéi jīn tiān xià wǔ de kè zhǔn bèi hǎo jī qì.
Please fit the machine up for this afternoon's class.
6
那是个美妙的下午，出席人数众多。
nà shì gè měi miào de xià wǔ， ， chū xí rén shù zhòng。
It was a marvellous afternoon with a huge turnout of people.
7
那是个阴冷的下午。
nà shì gè yīn lěng de xià wǔ。
It was a chilly afternoon.
8
那是下午近黄昏的时候。
nà shì xià wǔ jìn huáng hūn de shí hòu。
It was late in the afternoon.
9
你知道吗？我下午要去看马戏。
nǐ zhī dào ma？ ？ wǒ xià wǔ yào qù kàn mǎ。
Do you know what? I'm going to the circus this afternoon.
10
斯图尔特正为头天下午的事件而大发脾气。
sī tú ěr tè zhèng wéi tóu tiān xià wǔ de shì jiàn ér dà fā pí qì。
Stewart was foaming at the mouth about an incident the previous afternoon.
Cultural Notes for 下午
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the afternoon is often associated with practices like '下午茶' (afternoon tea) or a short nap, reflecting the importance of taking breaks during the day. This shows a cultural emphasis on balance between work and rest.
Frequently Asked Questions about 下午
You would say '在下午' (zài xiàwǔ).
Yes, but it's more commonly used in informal situations.
上午 means 'morning' while 下午 means 'afternoon'; think of them as opposite parts of the day.
