====== xiǎoshí: 小时 - Hour, Period of Time ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** 小时, xiaoshi, Chinese for hour, how to say hour in Chinese, measure word for time, Chinese time, 钟头 (zhongtou), 点 (dian), telling time in Mandarin, HSK 1 vocabulary, learn Chinese
  * **Summary:** Learn how to say and use "hour" in Mandarin Chinese with our complete guide to **小时 (xiǎoshí)**. This entry breaks down the characters, explains the critical difference between **小时 (xiǎoshí)** for duration and **点 (diǎn)** for a point in time, and provides over 10 practical examples. Understand this essential HSK 1 word for discussing schedules, travel time, and daily routines in any Chinese conversation.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** xiǎo shí
  * **Part of Speech:** Noun / Measure Word
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 1
  * **Concise Definition:** A unit of time equal to 60 minutes; an hour.
  * **In a Nutshell:** **小时 (xiǎoshí)** is the standard and most common word for "hour" in Chinese. It's used to measure a //duration// of time. If you want to say how long something takes—like a two-hour movie, a one-hour meeting, or an eight-hour workday—this is the word you need. It's a fundamental concept for managing your schedule and talking about your day in Mandarin.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **小 (xiǎo):** This character means "small" or "little." It's one of the simplest characters, originally a pictogram of three small dots representing something tiny, like grains of sand.
  * **时 (shí):** This character means "time" or "period." It's a combination of the radical 日 (rì), meaning "sun," and the phonetic component 寺 (sì). The use of the "sun" radical points to the ancient method of tracking time by observing the sun's position.
  * **How they combine:** Together, **小时 (xiǎoshí)** literally means "small time." This logically distinguishes this unit of time from larger ones like 天 (tiān - day) or 年 (nián - year). It's a simple, descriptive, and intuitive name for an hour.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
While the concept of a 60-minute hour is universal, the Chinese term **小时 (xiǎoshí)** offers a glimpse into the logic of the language. Unlike the English word "hour," which has opaque origins from Ancient Greek, **小时 (xiǎoshí)** is transparently "small time." This reflects a common feature in modern Chinese, where complex ideas are often built from simple, logical character components.
In terms of cultural values, using **小时 (xiǎoshí)** accurately is key to demonstrating punctuality and reliability, which are highly valued in Chinese business and formal settings. An appointment at `三点 (sān diǎn - 3 o'clock)` is expected to be on time. However, when describing a duration, it's common to add words like `左右 (zuǒyòu - around/approximately)`, showing a bit more flexibility. For instance, saying a journey takes `五个小时左右 (wǔ ge xiǎoshí zuǒyòu)` means "around five hours," which is a very common and natural way of speaking.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**小时 (xiǎoshí)** is a universally used term in all contexts, from formal written documents to casual everyday conversation. It is the default, neutral word for "hour."
  --- Measuring Duration ---
This is the primary function of **小时**. It answers the question "how long?".
  * A flight takes ten **hours** (十个**小时**).
  * You need to cook it for one **hour** (一个**小时**).
  * I exercise for half an **hour** every day (半个**小时**).
  --- Colloquial Usage ---
In spoken Chinese, especially in northern regions, you will frequently hear **钟头 (zhōngtóu)** used interchangeably with **小时**. They mean the same thing, but **小时** is slightly more formal and is the standard for writing, while **钟头** is purely colloquial.
  * I waited for two hours:
    * Standard: 我等了两个**小时**。(Wǒ děng le liǎng ge **xiǎoshí**.)
    * Colloquial: 我等了两个钟头。(Wǒ děng le liǎng ge zhōngtóu.)
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 我每天工作八个**小时**。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ měitiān gōngzuò bā ge **xiǎoshí**.
    * English: I work for eight hours every day.
    * Analysis: A classic example of stating the duration of a daily activity. Note the use of the measure word `个 (ge)`.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 我们一个**小时**后在咖啡馆见。
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen yí ge **xiǎoshí** hòu zài kāfēiguǎn jiàn.
    * English: Let's meet at the coffee shop in one hour.
    * Analysis: This shows how to talk about a future event relative to the present time. `[duration] + 后 (hòu)` means "after [duration]".
  * **Example 3:**
    * 从北京到上海坐高铁要五个**小时**左右。
    * Pinyin: Cóng Běijīng dào Shànghǎi zuò gāotiě yào wǔ ge **xiǎoshí** zuǒyòu.
    * English: It takes around five hours to get from Beijing to Shanghai by high-speed rail.
    * Analysis: The word `左右 (zuǒyòu)` is frequently used with `小时` to mean "approximately" or "about."
  * **Example 4:**
    * 你每天晚上学习几**小时**？
    * Pinyin: Nǐ měitiān wǎnshang xuéxí jǐ **xiǎoshí**?
    * English: How many hours do you study every evening?
    * Analysis: `几 (jǐ)` is used to ask "how many" for numbers expected to be relatively small (e.g., under 10 or 12).
  * **Example 5:**
    * 我等了你半个**小时**！
    * Pinyin: Wǒ děng le nǐ bàn ge **xiǎoshí**!
    * English: I waited for you for half an hour!
    * Analysis: `半 (bàn)` means "half." `半个小时 (bàn ge xiǎoshí)` is the standard way to say "half an hour."
  * **Example 6:**
    * 这部电影太长了，有三个**小时**。
    * Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng tài cháng le, yǒu sān ge **xiǎoshí**.
    * English: This movie is too long; it's three hours.
    * Analysis: Using `有 (yǒu)` here means "it has a length of..." or simply "it is."
  * **Example 7:**
    * 这家商店的午休时间是一个**小时**。
    * Pinyin: Zhè jiā shāngdiàn de wǔxiū shíjiān shì yí ge **xiǎoshí**.
    * English: This store's lunch break is one hour long.
    * Analysis: A more formal/official use of the term in the context of business hours.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 开车去机场至少需要一个半**小时**。
    * Pinyin: Kāichē qù jīchǎng zhìshǎo xūyào yí ge bàn **xiǎoshí**.
    * English: Driving to the airport requires at least one and a half hours.
    * Analysis: `一个半小时 (yí ge bàn xiǎoshí)` is the correct structure for "one and a half hours."
  * **Example 9:**
    * 他睡了不到六个**小时**就起床了。
    * Pinyin: Tā shuì le bú dào liù ge **xiǎoshí** jiù qǐchuáng le.
    * English: He slept for less than six hours and then got up.
    * Analysis: `不到 (bú dào)` means "less than" or "not yet," used here to specify an upper limit on the duration.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 这个充电宝可以提供十**小时**的电量。
    * Pinyin: Zhè ge chōngdiànbǎo kěyǐ tígōng shí **xiǎoshí** de diànliàng.
    * English: This power bank can provide ten hours of charge.
    * Analysis: In this more technical or written-style sentence, the measure word `个 (ge)` can be omitted, making it sound more concise. `十个小时` is also perfectly correct.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **Mistake 1: Confusing 小时 (xiǎoshí) with 点 (diǎn)**
    * This is the most common mistake for beginners.
    * **小时 (xiǎoshí):** Measures a //duration//. (How long?)
    * **点 (diǎn):** Names a //point in time//. (What time?)
    * **Correct:** 会议是**三点**开始，会开两个**小时**。(Huìyì shì **sān diǎn** kāishǐ, huì kāi liǎng ge **xiǎoshí**.) -> The meeting starts at **3 o'clock** and will last for two **hours**.
    * **Incorrect:** 会议是三个**小时**开始。(Huìyì shì sān ge **xiǎoshí** kāishǐ.) -> //This incorrectly says "The meeting starts at three hours."//
  * **Mistake 2: Forgetting the measure word 个 (ge)**
    * When using a number before `小时`, you almost always need to include the measure word `个 (ge)`. The main exception is in very concise, written statements. When in doubt, use `个`.
    * **Correct (and most common):** 我看了两个**小时**的书。(Wǒ kàn le liǎng ge **xiǎoshí** de shū.)
    * **Also Correct (more formal/abbreviated):** 我看了一**小时**书。(Wǒ kàn le yì **xiǎoshí** shū.)
    * **Incorrect:** 我看了两**小时**书。(Wǒ kàn le liǎng **xiǎoshí** shū.) -> //Always use `两个 (liǎng ge)` for "two of something," not `二个 (èr ge)` or `两 (liǎng)` by itself in this context.//
  * **Nuance: 小时 (xiǎoshí) vs. 钟头 (zhōngtóu)**
    * As mentioned earlier, `钟头 (zhōngtóu)` is a common colloquial alternative, especially in speech. Using it can make you sound more natural, but `小时` is always correct and is the only one you should use in writing.
    * **Standard/Written:** 停车费每**小时**十元。(Tíngchēfèi měi **xiǎoshí** shí yuán.) -> Parking is 10 RMB per hour.
    * **Colloquial/Spoken:** 在这儿停一个钟头得十块钱。(Zài zhèr tíng yí ge zhōngtóu děi shí kuài qián.) -> Parking here for an hour costs 10 bucks.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[钟头]] (zhōngtóu) - A colloquial synonym for `小时`, used mostly in spoken language.
  * [[点]] (diǎn) - Means "o'clock" or "dot." It refers to a specific point in time, not a duration.
  * [[分钟]] (fēnzhōng) - "Minute." A smaller unit of time; there are 60 `分钟` in one `小时`.
  * [[秒]] (miǎo) - "Second." The smallest common unit of time.
  * [[刻]] (kè) - "Quarter of an hour" (15 minutes). For example, `三点一刻 (sān diǎn yí kè)` is 3:15.
  * [[时间]] (shíjiān) - The general concept of "time." `你有什么时间？(Nǐ yǒu shénme shíjiān?)` means "When are you free?"
  * [[半]] (bàn) - "Half." Used to form phrases like `半个小时 (bàn ge xiǎoshí)` for "half an hour."
  * [[左右]] (zuǒyòu) - "Around, about, approximately." Often placed after a duration, e.g., `一个小时左右`.
  * [[两]] (liǎng) - The number "two" used before measure words. You must say `两个小时 (liǎng ge xiǎoshí)`, not `二个小时 (èr ge xiǎoshí)`.