fēnzhōng: 分钟 - Minute

• Keywords: fenzhong, fen zhong, 分钟, how to say minute in Chinese, Chinese word for minute, measure word for minutes in Chinese, telling time in Chinese, fenzhong meaning, what does fenzhong mean, Mandarin time words.
• Summary: Learn how to say “minute” in Chinese with the essential word 分钟 (fēnzhōng). This comprehensive guide explains the meaning of fēnzhōng, its simple character breakdown, and how to use it for telling time and describing durations in Mandarin. Discover practical, real-world example sentences and understand its crucial role as a key measure word for time, helping you master daily conversations in Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): fēnzhōng
• Part of Speech: Noun, Measure Word
• HSK Level: HSK 1
• Concise Definition: A unit of time equal to sixty seconds; a minute.
• In a Nutshell: 分钟 (fēnzhōng) is the standard and most common way to say “minute” in Mandarin Chinese. It functions exactly like its English counterpart, used for both telling specific times (e.g., 3:10) and stating durations (e.g., “wait for 10 minutes”). It is a fundamental vocabulary word for anyone learning to discuss schedules, daily routines, or appointments in Chinese.

• 分 (fēn): This character's core meaning is “to divide” or “a part/portion”. In this context, it refers to a “division” of an hour. Think of an hour being divided into 60 smaller parts; one of those parts is a `分`.
• 钟 (zhōng): This character means “clock” or “bell”. Historically, time was often kept by striking a large bell. Therefore, `钟` is strongly associated with timekeeping devices.

When combined, 分钟 (fēnzhōng) literally translates to a “division of the clock”. This is a very logical and descriptive way to form the word for “minute”—one of the 60 divisions on a clock face.

While the word 分钟 (fēnzhōng) itself is a straightforward unit of time, its universal use in modern China reflects the country's integration with global standards of timekeeping. Traditionally, Chinese time was measured in `时辰 (shíchen)`, where one `时辰` was equivalent to two modern hours. The adoption and ubiquitous use of the 60-minute hour, and thus the `分钟`, signifies a shift towards a precise, internationally recognized system. In contemporary Chinese culture, especially in urban and professional environments, punctuality is highly valued. The concept of being on time, or `准时 (zhǔnshí)`, is a sign of respect and reliability. Therefore, being able to discuss time down to the 分钟 is not just a language skill but a cultural necessity. Unlike some Western social contexts where being “fashionably late” might be acceptable, arriving late for a business meeting or a formal dinner in China can be seen as disrespectful. This modern emphasis on minute-by-minute precision stands in contrast to the more fluid, cyclical concept of time found in traditional Chinese philosophy.

分钟 (fēnzhōng) is a high-frequency word used in virtually all aspects of daily life. Its usage is generally neutral and fits both formal and informal situations.

When stating a specific time on the clock, like “ten minutes past three,” it's very common and natural to drop the `钟 (zhōng)` and just use `分 (fēn)`.

• e.g., 现在是三点十分。 (Xiànzài shì sān diǎn shí fēn.) - It's 3:10 right now.

When talking about a duration or a length of time, you must use the full word 分钟 (fēnzhōng). Dropping the `钟 (zhōng)` in this context would be grammatically incorrect.

• e.g., 我需要休息几分钟。 (Wǒ xūyào xiūxi jǐ fēnzhōng.) - I need to rest for a few minutes.
• e.g., 这部电影有九十分钟。 (Zhè bù diànyǐng yǒu jiǔshí fēnzhōng.) - This movie is 90 minutes long.

• Example 1:
  • 会议将在五分钟后开始。
  • Pinyin: Huìyì jiàng zài wǔ fēnzhōng hòu kāishǐ.
  • English: The meeting will begin in five minutes.
  • Analysis: A common way to express a future event. `[Time Duration] + 后 (hòu)` means “after [Time Duration]” or “[Time Duration] from now”.
• Example 2:
  • 我每天走路去上班，大概要二十分钟。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ měitiān zǒulù qù shàngbān, dàgài yào èrshí fēnzhōng.
  • English: I walk to work every day; it takes about twenty minutes.
  • Analysis: This example shows how to describe the duration of a routine activity. `大概 (dàgài)` means “approximately” or “about”.
• Example 3:
  • 请等一分钟，我马上就来。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng děng yī fēnzhōng, wǒ mǎshàng jiù lái.
  • English: Please wait a minute, I'll be right there.
  • Analysis: “一分钟” is the direct equivalent of “one minute” or “a minute”. `马上就来 (mǎshàng jiù lái)` is a very common phrase for “coming right away”.
• Example 4:
  • 现在是八点二十五分。
  • Pinyin: Xiànzài shì bā diǎn èrshíwǔ fēn.
  • English: It's 8:25 right now.
  • Analysis: Note the key usage point here. When telling the time on the clock, the `钟 (zhōng)` is almost always dropped. It sounds more natural to a native speaker.
• Example 5:
  • 这个菜需要用微波炉加热三分钟。
  • Pinyin: Zhège cài xūyào yòng wéibōlú jiārè sān fēnzhōng.
  • English: This dish needs to be heated in the microwave for three minutes.
  • Analysis: A practical example from daily life, such as following cooking instructions.
• Example 6:
  • 火车晚点了三十分钟。
  • Pinyin: Huǒchē wǎndiǎn le sānshí fēnzhōng.
  • English: The train was delayed by 30 minutes.
  • Analysis: The structure `晚点 + 了 + [Time Duration]` is used to state that something is late by a certain amount of time.
• Example 7:
  • 从我家到机场开车需要四十五分钟。
  • Pinyin: Cóng wǒ jiā dào jīchǎng kāichē xūyào sìshíwǔ fēnzhōng.
  • English: It takes 45 minutes to drive from my house to the airport.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the `从…到… (cóng…dào…)` structure, meaning “from…to…”, to describe travel time.
• Example 8:
  • 你有几分钟的时间吗？我想问你一个问题。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ yǒu jǐ fēnzhōng de shíjiān ma? Wǒ xiǎng wèn nǐ yīgè wèntí.
  • English: Do you have a few minutes? I'd like to ask you a question.
  • Analysis: `几分钟 (jǐ fēnzhōng)` is the standard way to say “a few minutes”. It's a polite way to ask for a small amount of someone's time.
• Example 9:
  • 他只用了十分钟就完成了考试。
  • Pinyin: Tā zhǐ yòngle shí fēnzhōng jiù wánchéngle kǎoshì.
  • English: He finished the exam in just ten minutes.
  • Analysis: The `只用了…就… (zhǐ yòngle…jiù…)` structure emphasizes the short amount of time taken to accomplish something.
• Example 10:
  • 距离截止日期只剩下几分钟了！
  • Pinyin: Jùlí jiézhǐ rìqī zhǐ shèng xià jǐ fēnzhōng le!
  • English: There are only a few minutes left until the deadline!
  • Analysis: This sentence conveys a sense of urgency. `剩下 (shèng xià)` means “to be left” or “to remain”.

The most common point of confusion for learners is knowing when to use the full 分钟 (fēnzhōng) and when to use the shortened 分 (fēn).

• Mistake: Using 分 (fēn) for durations.
  • Incorrect: 我等了你十分。 (Wǒ děngle nǐ shí fēn.)
  • Why it's wrong: When you are talking about a quantity or duration of time (10 minutes, 30 minutes, etc.), you must use the full measure word 分钟. The sentence above sounds incomplete.
  • Correct: 我等了你十分钟。 (Wǒ děngle nǐ shí fēnzhōng.) - I waited for you for 10 minutes.
• Mistake: Using the full 分钟 (fēnzhōng) when telling clock time.
  • Not wrong, but unnatural: 现在是三点一刻分钟。 (Xiànzài shì sān diǎn yī kè fēnzhōng.)
  • Why it's unnatural: While grammatically understandable, native speakers almost always drop the `钟` when reading the time off a clock. It's redundant because the context of `点 (diǎn)` already implies you're talking about clock time.
  • Correct and Natural: 现在是三点十五分。 (Xiànzài shì sān diǎn shíwǔ fēn.) - It is 3:15 now.

Rule of Thumb:

• If you're saying what time it is (e.g., 2:30), use 分 (fēn).
• If you're saying how long something takes (e.g., 30 minutes long), use 分钟 (fēnzhōng).

• 秒 (miǎo) - Second. The unit of time smaller than a 分钟.
• 小时 (xiǎoshí) - Hour. The unit of time larger than a 分钟. Sixty 分钟 make one 小时.
• 点 (diǎn) - O'clock; a point in time. Used for telling the specific hour, e.g., `三点 (sān diǎn)` for 3 o'clock.
• 刻 (kè) - Quarter of an hour (15 minutes). A more traditional but still common way to tell time, e.g., `三点一刻 (sān diǎn yī kè)` for 3:15.
• 半 (bàn) - Half. Used to mean “half past the hour”, e.g., `三点半 (sān diǎn bàn)` for 3:30.
• 时间 (shíjiān) - Time. The general, abstract concept of time, as in “I don't have time.”
• 准时 (zhǔnshí) - Punctual; on time. A culturally important concept related to respecting scheduled times.
• 大概 (dàgài) - Approximately; about. Often used with 分钟 to give an estimate, e.g., `大概五分钟 (dàgài wǔ fēnzhōng)`.