今天星期几？
Chapter Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Count from 0 to 99 in Mandarin, including numbers already used informally in Chapters 1-3.
- Ask and state the day of the week using 星期几.
- Ask and state the date using 几月几号.
- Tell time using 点 and 分.
- Place time expressions correctly before the verb, following Mandarin's time-before-verb word order.
- Apply the 一 tone-sandhi pattern and begin the 不 tone-sandhi pattern in context.
- Complete a short spoken and written exchange about days, dates, and schedules.
Communication Scenario
Sarah's Mandarin class is planning a small get-together, and 大卫 wants to confirm the day, the date, and the time before he tells the rest of the class. Sarah needs to say what day it is today, what today's date is, and what time the gathering starts — all using numbers and time words she has not yet had a full system for.
- This chapter gives you the language for counting, for naming days and dates, and for telling time.
- It also gives you the word-order rule that time expressions come before the verb in Mandarin, and your first full look at the 一 and 不 tone-sandhi patterns you began to notice with 一个 in Chapter 3.
Where This Chapter Fits
Chapter 4 builds on the counting and measure-word foundation from Chapter 3, where you used the number 一 with 个 and 口 and first noticed that 一 shifts to second tone before a fourth-tone syllable. This chapter expands your numbers up through 99 and puts them to work in two new practical systems: days/dates and clock time. It also gives you your first explicit word-order rule beyond basic subject-verb-object: time expressions belong before the verb, not at the end of the sentence as in English.
Coming Into This Chapter
The number 一, the measure words 个 and 口, and the preview of 一 shifting tone before 个 from Chapter 3.
New in This Chapter
Numbers 0-99; 星期几 and the days of the week; 几月几号 and the calendar; 点/分 for clock time; time-before-verb word order; and the full 一 and 不 tone-sandhi patterns.
Looking Forward
Chapter 5 is the Unit I assessment and reviews Chapters 1-4 without introducing new grammar. Chapter 6 then opens Unit II with food, drink, and preferences.
Core Vocabulary
The words below expand your vocabulary into numbers, dates, and time. As before, read the simplified character first, then the Pinyin with tone marks, then the English meaning.
| Chinese | Pinyin | Part/Function | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 零/一/二/三/四/五 | líng/yī/èr/sān/sì/wǔ | numbers | 0/1/2/3/4/5 | foundation for all higher numbers |
| 六/七/八/九/十 | liù/qī/bā/jiǔ/shí | numbers | 6/7/8/9/10 | combine with 十 to form 11-99 |
| 星期 | xīngqī | noun | week | combines with 几 or a number for weekdays |
| 星期几 | xīngqī jǐ | question phrase | what day of the week | 星期 + question word 几, not 几星期 |
| 星期一 ... 星期日/天 | xīngqīyī ... xīngqīrì/tiān | nouns | Monday ... Sunday | Sunday may be 星期日 or 星期天; both are common |
| 今天 | jīntiān | time word | today | placed before the verb, not after |
| 明天 | míngtiān | time word | tomorrow | same placement rule as 今天 |
| 昨天 | zuótiān | time word | yesterday | same placement rule as 今天 |
| 月 | yuè | noun | month | combines with a number: 一月, 二月... |
| 号/日 | hào/rì | noun | day (of the month) | 号 is more spoken/informal, 日 more written/formal |
| 几月几号 | jǐ yuè jǐ hào | question phrase | what month and what day | answer follows the same month-then-day order |
| 点 | diǎn | measure word/noun | o'clock | follows a number: 三点, 十点 |
| 分 | fēn | noun | minute | follows 点 and a number: 三点二十分 |
| 半 | bàn | noun | half | 三点半 = 3:30, used instead of 三十分 |
| 现在 | xiànzài | time word | now | placed before the verb, like other time words |
Receptive vocabulary (recognize only, do not produce yet): 刻 (kè, quarter-hour) may appear on printed schedules. Full quarter-hour and "X minutes to the hour" time expressions are not required for production in this chapter.
Tones and Characters
4.1 The 一 tone-sandhi pattern
In Chapter 3 you noticed that 一 is pronounced yí in 一个 because 个 is fourth tone. This chapter makes that pattern explicit and complete.
一 is first tone (yī) only when said alone, at the end of a phrase, or before a pause — for example, when counting aloud: yī, èr, sān. Before a fourth-tone syllable, 一 becomes second tone (yí), as in 一个 (yí ge) and 一日 (yí rì). Before a first-, second-, or third-tone syllable, 一 becomes fourth tone (yì), as in 一天 (yì tiān) and 一年 (yì nián). This is a fully regular pattern, not an exception to memorize word by word.
4.2 The 不 tone-sandhi pattern
不 is normally fourth tone (bù), as in 不是 from Chapter 2. Before another fourth-tone syllable, 不 shifts to second tone: 不是 is actually pronounced bú shì, not bù shì. Before first, second, or third tone, 不 stays fourth tone, as in 不喝 (bù hē). You have been hearing this pattern in 不是 since Chapter 2 without a formal rule; now you have the full pattern.
Both sandhi patterns affect pronunciation only. In writing, 一 and 不 are always written the same way regardless of their spoken tone.
4.3 New characters in this chapter
The characters below are the words or word-parts you met in this chapter's vocabulary.
天 means "day" in words like 今天 and 明天, but the same character also means "sky" in other contexts. You will meet more characters like this, where one written form carries more than one related meaning depending on the word it appears in.
You are not expected to handwrite every character in this chapter. Continue applying the stroke-order principles from Chapters 2 and 3, and note that 月, 日, and 今 are common components you will see again in later date and time vocabulary.
Grammar and Sentence Patterns
4.4 Numbers 0-99
Purpose: count people, dates, times, and quantities beyond the numbers used formulaically in Chapter 3.
Mandarin numbers 0-10 are single syllables. Numbers 11-19 are formed with 十 ("ten") plus a units digit: 十一 (11), 十五 (15). Numbers 20-99 are formed with a tens digit plus 十 plus a units digit: 二十 (20), 三十五 (35), 九十九 (99).
The basic pattern is: [tens digit] + 十 + [units digit], with the tens digit dropped for the teens and the units digit dropped for round tens. 十 (10), 十七 (17), 六十 (60), 六十七 (67).
Numbers above 99 are introduced starting in Chapter 6, once you have a communicative need for them.
4.5 Time-before-verb word order
Purpose: correctly place time expressions in a Mandarin sentence.
Unlike English, Mandarin places time expressions before the verb, most often right after the subject. This applies to days, dates, and clock times alike.
- 今天星期三。 Jīntiān xīngqīsān. Today is Wednesday.
- 我们明天九点见。 Wǒmen míngtiān jiǔ diǎn jiàn. We will meet tomorrow at nine o'clock.
When a sentence has both a time word and a place word, time normally comes first: 我们明天在学校见。 ("We'll meet at school tomorrow.") A fuller treatment of place-word order begins in Chapter 8.
4.6 Asking and stating the day of the week
Purpose: ask what day it is and answer with the correct weekday.
Days of the week are formed with 星期 plus a number one through six, with Sunday as an exception: 星期一 (Monday) through 星期六 (Saturday), then 星期日 or 星期天 (Sunday).
- 今天星期几？ Jīntiān xīngqī jǐ? What day of the week is it today?
- 今天星期五。 Jīntiān xīngqīwǔ. Today is Friday.
Notice that these sentences use a nominal predicate pattern without 是, similar to time expressions in many languages. This is a fixed pattern for dates, days, and time; it does not mean 是 is optional everywhere.
4.7 Asking and stating the date
Purpose: ask what today's date is and answer with month and day.
几月几号 asks for both the month and the day, always in that order — month first, then day, the reverse of common English date order.
- 今天几月几号？ Jīntiān jǐ yuè jǐ hào? What is today's date?
- 今天九月十号。 Jīntiān jiǔ yuè shí hào. Today is September 10th.
4.8 Telling time with 点 and 分
Purpose: state and understand clock times.
点 marks the hour and 分 marks the minute. 半 ("half") replaces 三十分 for the half-hour.
The basic pattern is: [hour] + 点 + [minutes] + 分。 三点 (3:00), 三点二十分 (3:20), 三点半 (3:30). When the minute count is under ten, a 零 (líng) may appear before it in careful speech: 三点零五分 (3:05).
- 现在几点？ Xiànzài jǐ diǎn? What time is it now?
- 现在八点半。 Xiànzài bā diǎn bàn. It's 8:30 now.
This chapter only asks you to state times on the hour, the half hour, and simple minute counts. Quarter-hour expressions with 刻 and "X minutes to the hour" patterns are introduced in a later volume.
Model Dialogue
Setting: After class, 大卫 wants to confirm the class gathering with Sarah.
理解问题 — Comprehension questions:
- 今天几月几号？星期几？ (What is today's date? What day of the week?)
- 聚会是什么时候？ (When is the gathering?)
- What time does the gathering start?
Listening Practice
Ask your instructor, a study partner, or a fluent Mandarin speaker to read the model dialogue above aloud, at a natural pace, twice. On the first listen, notice the date and time mentioned. On the second listen, complete the table below.
If no speaker is available, this is a Listening Script for Independent Use. Read the passage aloud yourself, slowly and clearly at first, then at a more natural pace. Any spoken model should be verified by a fluent Mandarin speaker before being treated as a pronunciation standard.
我的时间表 — My schedule:
"今天是星期二，九月十六号。我星期二、星期四都学习中文。今天我下午三点上课，五点半下课。明天，星期三，我没有课。"
听力任务 — Listening task:
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 今天星期几？几号？ (What day and date is it today?) | ______ |
| 今天几点上课？几点下课？ (What time does class start and end today?) | ______ |
| 明天有课吗？ (Is there class tomorrow?) | ______ |
You are not expected to understand every word in this passage (such as 下午, afternoon, or 下课, to finish class) — focus on the day, date, and time questions the task asks about.
Reading Practice
Read the two short schedule notes below aloud, sounding out each character slowly.
理解问题 — Comprehension questions:
- On which days is the library closed?
- Is Mark's party on his actual birthday? How do you know from the text?
Writing Workshop
Write a short schedule note about your own week, following the models above. Your note should use at least one weekday, one date with 月 and 号, and one clock time with 点.
写作任务 — Writing task: Write four or five short sentences in simplified characters, typing them with Pinyin input if possible, or copying the characters carefully by hand. Handwrite 今天, 月, and 点 at least three times each, applying the stroke-direction principles from Chapters 2 and 3.
- State today's day and date. Start with 今天星期...，...月...号。
- Describe one activity with a time. Use 我...点... for something you do at a specific time.
- Mention tomorrow or yesterday. Use 明天 or 昨天 with correct time-before-verb placement.
- Check your word order. Confirm every time word appears before its verb, not after.
修改清单 — Editing checklist:
- Time words (今天, 明天, 昨天, 现在) appear before the verb, not after.
- Dates follow the order month then day: ...月...号.
- Clock times follow the order hour then minute: ...点...分.
- Numbers 11-99 are built correctly with 十.
- A Chinese period (。) or question mark (？) ends each sentence.
Speaking Practice
控制性练习 — Controlled practice: reading the model dialogue aloud
Read the model dialogue above aloud twice: once slowly, sounding out each tone, and once at a more natural pace. Pay close attention to the tone shift in 十二 and 对不对, and to placing each time word before its verb.
交际任务 — Communicative task: schedule interview
With a partner or small group, ask and answer 今天星期几？, 今天几月几号？, and 你今天几点上课？, responding with accurate day, date, and time expressions.
独立练习 — Solo alternative
Record yourself stating today's day, date, and the time of one activity in your day, in three or four sentences. Listen back and check the tone of 一 and 不 in any words where the sandhi pattern applies.
Culture and Communication
In many Mandarin-speaking contexts, the week is commonly thought of as beginning with 星期一 (Monday), with 星期日/星期天 (Sunday) understood as the last day of the week, though calendar formatting and personal habits vary by individual, workplace, and region.
Written dates in many Mandarin-speaking contexts commonly follow the order year, then month, then day, the reverse of common U.S. month-day-year order. This chapter focuses on spoken month-and-day questions; the full year-month-day writing pattern is introduced in a later volume.
Common Mistakes
Error: Saying *我上课今天, placing the time word after the verb by analogy with English.
Correction: Time words come before the verb: 我今天上课。 Review Language Building Block 4.5.
Error: Saying *十号九月, giving the day before the month.
Correction: Mandarin always states the month first, then the day: 九月十号。 Review Grammar 4.7.
Error: Pronouncing 一天 as *yī tiān or 不是 as *bù shì in connected speech.
Correction: 一 and 不 both shift to second tone specifically before a fourth-tone syllable. Since 天 is first tone, 一天 keeps 一 at fourth tone: yì tiān. Since 个 is fourth tone, 一个 shifts 一 to second tone: yí ge. Since 是 is fourth tone, 不是 shifts 不 to second tone: bú shì. Review Pronunciation 4.1 and 4.2 and check the tone of the syllable that follows before deciding whether a shift applies.
Chapter Review
部分 A — 理解 (Comprehension)
1. Return to the model dialogue and answer in English:
- What is today's day and date in the dialogue?
- What day, date, and time is the gathering?
部分 B — 语法 (Grammar)
1. Rewrite each sentence, moving the time word to the correct position before the verb:
- 我学习中文今天。 (fix the word order)
- 他上课明天。 (fix the word order)
2. Write out the correct tone for 一 in each context: 一天 (___ tone), 一个 (___ tone), 一年 (___ tone).
部分 C — 阅读 (Reading)
1. Return to the two schedule notes above and answer:
- 图书馆星期几不开门？ (On which days is the library closed?)
- 马克的聚会是几月几号？ (What is the date of Mark's party?)
部分 D — 写作 (Writing)
1. Write four or five sentences describing today's day, date, and one scheduled activity with a specific time.
部分 E — 口语 (Speaking)
1. Interview a partner about their weekly schedule, without reading from a script, and report back one day and time you learned.
Tone and Number Recognition Check
Say each number aloud and check that you built it correctly with 十: 十二, 二十, 四十五, 九十九. Then say 一天, 一个, and 不是, confirming the correct sandhi tone in each.
Practical Performance Task
Chapter 4 Performance Task
Schedule Confirmation Exchange
Complete the following four connected tasks in order, exactly as Sarah and 大卫 do when confirming the class gathering.
- Listen to the model dialogue, or a similar exchange read by your instructor or partner, and complete the listening table above.
- Read the two schedule notes above and answer the comprehension questions.
- Write your own schedule note, following the writing workshop steps and editing checklist.
- Speak a complete schedule-confirmation exchange with a partner, recording, or instructor, without reading from a script.
| Criterion | What is assessed |
|---|---|
| Number formation | Numbers 0-99 are built correctly with 十. |
| Day and date accuracy | 星期几 and 几月几号 are asked and answered correctly, in the correct month-then-day order. |
| Clock time accuracy | 点 and 分 (or 半) are used correctly, in the correct hour-then-minute order. |
| Time-before-verb word order | Time expressions are placed before the verb, not at the end of the sentence. |
| 一/不 sandhi | The 一 and 不 tone-sandhi patterns are produced with reasonable, intelligible accuracy. |
This task assesses only what this chapter has taught. It does not require quarter-hour time expressions, year-month-day written dates, or numbers above 99, all of which develop gradually across the volume.
Answer Key
Model Dialogue — Comprehension
- In the dialogue, today is Wednesday, September 10th.
- The gathering is Friday, September 12th, starting at 6:30.
- It starts at 6:30 (六点半).
Listening
- Today is Tuesday, September 16th.
- Class starts at 3:00 p.m. and ends at 5:30 p.m.
- No, there is no class tomorrow (Wednesday).
Reading — Comprehension
- The library is closed Saturday and Sunday.
- No — his party is Saturday, October 18th, but his birthday is Monday, October 20th; the text states both dates separately.
Chapter Review — 部分 B
- (a) 我今天学习中文。 (b) 他明天上课。
- 一天 = fourth tone (yì); 一个 = second tone (yí); 一年 = fourth tone (yì).
Chapter Review — 部分 C
- (a) Saturday and Sunday. (b) October 18th.
Tone and Number Recognition Check — Correct answers
十二 (shí'èr); 二十 (èrshí); 四十五 (sìshiwǔ); 九十九 (jiǔshijiǔ). 一天 (yì tiān, fourth tone); 一个 (yí ge, second tone); 不是 (bú shì, second tone).
Looking Ahead
现在你会做什么 — What you can do now
You can count from 0 to 99, ask and answer what day and date it is, tell time with 点 and 分, place time expressions correctly before the verb, and apply the 一 and 不 tone-sandhi patterns.