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    Chinese Grammar

    Counting minutes with the classifier 分 (fēn)

    Numbers & Quantity
    Time Expressions

    Structure

    Number + 分(钟)

    Explanation

    分 (fēn) is a classifier used to count minutes of time. It is placed after a number to indicate duration or a point in time, as in 五分钟 (five minutes) or 三点十分 (3:10). It is one of the most basic and frequently used time-related classifiers in Chinese.

    Examples

    • 电影还有五分钟就开始了，快点走吧。

      diànyǐng hái yǒu wǔ fēnzhōng jiù kāishǐ le, kuài diǎn zǒu ba.

      The movie starts in five minutes — let's hurry!

    • 从这儿走到地铁站大概要十分钟。

      cóng zhèr zǒu dào dìtiě zhàn dàgài yào shí fēnzhōng.

      It takes about ten minutes to walk from here to the subway station.

    • 请再给我两分钟，我马上写完。

      qǐng zài gěi wǒ liǎng fēnzhōng, wǒ mǎshàng xiě wán.

      Please give me two more minutes — I'll finish writing right away.

    Similar Grammar

    Counting minutes with the classifier 分 (fēn) | Chinese Grammar