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Expressing "minute" with 分 (fēn)
Numbers & Quantity
Time Expressions
Structure
Number + 分
Explanation
The noun 分 (fēn) is used as a unit of time meaning "minute." It appears after a number to indicate how many minutes have passed or remain, and is often combined with approximation words like 左右 (approximately) to give an estimated time.
Examples
从这儿走过去大概需要十分左右。
Cóng zhèr zǒu guòqù dàgài xūyào shí fēn zuǒyòu.
Walking from here takes about ten minutes or so.
请等我五分，我马上就来。
Qǐng děng wǒ wǔ fēn, wǒ mǎshàng jiù lái.
Please wait five minutes for me, I'll be right there.
火车还有二十分就到站了。
Huǒchē hái yǒu èrshí fēn jiù dào zhàn le.
The train will arrive at the station in twenty minutes.