noun HSK 1
noon · midday · lunchtime
Meaning
中午 refers to the middle of the day, typically the time around 12:00 PM. It encompasses both the exact noon hour and the lunch period, generally understood as roughly 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM. This is one of the most basic time words in Mandarin.
Usage
Native speakers use 中午 to refer to the lunch hour or midday period. It's commonly used when making plans, discussing meals, or describing when something happened during the middle of the day. Often appears with 吃 (to eat) when talking about lunch.
Examples
- 01我们中午一起吃饭吧。.Let's eat lunch together at noon.
- 02他中午十二点到的。.He arrived at 12 noon.
Characters
Common collocations
- 中午吃饭to eat lunch
- 中午见see you at noon
- 中午时分at noon, at midday
- 中午休息noon break, lunch break
Antonyms
Origin
Literally means 'middle-noon.' 午 originally referred to the seventh Earthly Branch corresponding to the midday hour (11 AM–1 PM) in traditional Chinese timekeeping.