A1 Expression Neutral 2 Min. Lesezeit

一个小时。

yī ge xiǎo shí.

One hour.

Wörtlich: One + individual (measure word) + small clock/hour.

In 15 Sekunden

  • Refers to a 60-minute duration of time.
  • Always include the measure word 'ge' in spoken Chinese.
  • Use it after verbs to show how long an action lasts.

Bedeutung

This is how you say 'one hour' when talking about a duration of time. It is the standard way to measure a 60-minute block in Chinese.

Wichtige Beispiele

3 von 6
1

Waiting for a friend

我等了一个小时。

I waited for one hour.

2

Professional meeting

会议需要一个小时。

The meeting needs one hour.

3

Texting about arrival

我一个小时后到。

I will arrive in one hour.

🌍

Kultureller Hintergrund

Punctuality is highly valued in business. You might hear '钟头' more often in casual speech.

💡

Use '个'

Always include '个' for natural flow.

In 15 Sekunden

  • Refers to a 60-minute duration of time.
  • Always include the measure word 'ge' in spoken Chinese.
  • Use it after verbs to show how long an action lasts.

What It Means

一个小时 is the most common way to say 'one hour.' It describes a length of time. It is not used for telling the time on a clock. For that, you use 一点. Think of this as a 60-minute container. It is simple, direct, and essential for daily life.

How To Use It

You place this phrase after a verb to show duration. For example, 等一个小时 means 'wait for one hour.' You can also use it to describe travel. If you are driving, you might say it takes 一个小时. Don't forget the measure word . It sits right in the middle. Without it, the phrase feels naked and incorrect to native ears.

When To Use It

Use it whenever you are measuring time. It works at the gym for your workout. It works at the office for a meeting. It even works when you are stuck in traffic. If you are ordering delivery, the app might say it takes 一个小时. It is a very versatile building block for your Chinese.

When NOT To Use It

Do not use this to say 'It is one o'clock.' That is a common rookie mistake. If you say 现在是一个小时, people will be very confused. They will think you are counting a single hour of existence. Also, avoid using it for very formal written reports. In those cases, the word 一小时 (without the ) is preferred. It sounds a bit more professional and clipped.

Cultural Background

In ancient China, time was measured in 时辰 (shíchen). One 时辰 was actually two hours long. When Western time was introduced, the new units were called 'small hours' or 小时. This distinguishes them from the old, longer units. It is a linguistic bridge between the old world and the modern world. Now, everyone just uses 小时 for their busy schedules.

Common Variations

You will often hear 一小时 in news or formal writing. In very casual speech, some people might just say 一个钟. This is more common in Southern China or Cantonese-influenced areas. If you want to say 'half an hour,' you say 半个小时. If it's 'an hour and a half,' use 一个半小时. Keep these in your back pocket for variety!

Nutzungshinweise

Perfect for all levels of formality. Just remember to include the measure word 'ge' in conversation to sound natural.

💡

Use '个'

Always include '个' for natural flow.

Beispiele

6
#1 Waiting for a friend

我等了一个小时。

I waited for one hour.

Shows the duration of the waiting action.

#2 Professional meeting

会议需要一个小时。

The meeting needs one hour.

Standard way to discuss scheduling in an office.

#3 Texting about arrival

我一个小时后到。

I will arrive in one hour.

Common way to give an ETA to friends.

#4 Humorous complaint

他洗澡要一个小时!

He takes an hour to shower!

Used to exaggerate or complain about someone's speed.

#5 Expressing exhaustion

我只想睡一个小时。

I just want to sleep for one hour.

Expressing a simple desire for a duration of rest.

#6 Asking for a time limit

可以给我一个小时吗?

Can you give me one hour?

Polite request for time to finish a task.

Teste dich selbst

Which is correct for duration?

我等了____。

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 一个小时

一个小时 is the correct duration measure.

🎉 Ergebnis: /1

Visuelle Lernhilfen

Aufgabensammlung

1 Aufgaben
Which is correct for duration? Choose A1

我等了____。

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 一个小时

一个小时 is the correct duration measure.

🎉 Ergebnis: /1

Häufig gestellte Fragen

1 Fragen

Yes, but '一个小时' is more common in speech.

Verwandte Redewendungen

🔗

半个小时

similar

Half an hour

🔗

两个小时

similar

Two hours

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