Time Adverbs
时间副词
Sequence actions and describe ongoing events
Time adverbs go before the verb to describe WHEN or in what sequence something happens.
先…再… creates a sequence ("first… then…"). 正在/正/在 marks an action in progress ("currently doing…").
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: Time Adverbs (时间副词)
Listen to Jason & Amy explain the 时间副词 pattern
New here?
Understanding 时间副词
Chinese doesn't conjugate verbs for tense — no past tense, no future tense, no "-ing" suffix. Instead, time adverbs and context do all the heavy lifting. 正在 tells your listener "this is happening RIGHT NOW." 先…再… lays out a plan: "FIRST this, THEN that." 马上 creates urgency: "any second now!" These small words are your timeline toolkit, letting you navigate past, present, and future without a single verb change. If you have studied Spanish or French, you know the pain of verb conjugation tables. Chinese throws all of that away and says: the verb stays the same, we just add a time word to set the scene. 吃 means "eat" whether it happened yesterday, is happening now, or will happen tomorrow. The time adverb or context tells you when. This is genuinely one of the most learner-friendly features of Chinese, so lean into it with confidence.
Key Points
- 马上 (mǎshàng) = immediately / right away. Creates urgency.
- 先 (xiān) = first. Paired with 再 (zài) = then, to create sequences.
- 有时 (yǒushí) = sometimes. Adds variety to descriptions of habits.
- 在 (zài) / 正 (zhèng) / 正在 (zhèngzài) = currently / right now / in the process of. All mark ongoing actions.
- You can add 呢 (ne) at the end for a casual "right now" feel: 我在看书呢。
- These adverbs go BEFORE the verb — the same position as most Chinese adverbs.
- 已经 (yǐjīng) = already. Often paired with 了: 我已经吃了 (I have already eaten). Very useful for describing completed actions.
- 快要 (kuàiyào) = about to / almost going to. Adds anticipation: 快要下课了 (Class is almost over).
- You can chain multiple 再 steps to build a whole schedule: 先吃饭，再做作业，再看电视 (First eat, then do homework, then watch TV).
When a Chinese host says 马上来 (coming right away), it might mean two minutes or twenty — the word conveys intention and politeness more than exact timing. Context matters!
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
医生马上来。
The doctor is coming right away.
我在看电视呢。
I'm watching TV.
在 + V + 呢 = ongoing casual action
你先吃饭，再做作业。
First eat, then do homework.
Sequencing pattern
她正在打电话。
She is on the phone right now.
我有时去咖啡店学习。
I sometimes study at a café.
先穿好衣服，再出门。
First get dressed, then go out.
我已经吃了。
I have already eaten.
Completed action — useful when someone offers you food
快要下课了！
Class is almost over!
Something is about to happen — at school
他正在跟医生说话。
He is talking to the doctor right now.
At the doctor — describing what is happening
先看菜单，再点菜。
First look at the menu, then order.
At a restaurant — natural sequence
Common Mistakes
在 (marking ongoing action) goes BEFORE the verb, not after it.
先 (first) must come before 再 (then) — the sequence matters! Don't reverse them.
Don't stack 正在 and 马上 together. 正在 means "currently happening" while 马上 means "about to happen" — they describe different moments in time.
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
To describe what you're doing right now, just say: 我在 + verb + 呢。It's the Chinese equivalent of "-ing."
Plan your day out loud using 先…再…: 我先去上课，再去吃饭，再去图书馆。String as many 再 steps as you want.
Don't confuse 再 (zài, then/again for future) with 在 (zài, currently doing). Same pronunciation, different characters and meanings!
When someone offers you food and you have already eaten, 我已经吃了 is your perfect polite decline. Memorize it for social situations.
If someone calls you and you are busy, say 我正在忙呢 (I'm busy right now) — polite and clear.
Homework
Describe your morning routine using 先…再… for at least four steps. Then write three sentences about what different people are doing RIGHT NOW using 在/正在 + verb + 呢。