Draw a horizontal line. Put a short downward stroke and a mark under it. That is 下: something below or moving down. The same idea stretches to 'next' in time, like 下个月.
In everyday speech, say 下个月. 下月 sounds like a formal calendar note.
Time words like 下午 go before the verb. 我吃饭下午 sounds like English word order.
Bare 下 can mean 'under' with a noun, like 桌子下. To point below, use 下面.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Under the table | 桌子下面 | 桌子下 (sounds clipped for beginners) |
| Downstairs | 楼下 | 楼下面 (means under the building) |
| Go down | 下去 | 下 (alone) |
一下 means 'a little' or 'briefly', not a literal one-time count.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Polite wait | 请等一下 | 请等 (too blunt) |
| Quick look | 我看一下 | 我看一 (broken) |
| Literal one time | 我去过一次 | 我去过一下 (wrong meaning) |
In 下午, 下 means the later half of the day. In 下个月, it means 'next'.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Afternoon | 下午 | 下天 (not a word) |
| Next month | 下个月 | 下月 (too formal for daily talk) |
| Last month | 上个月 | 下个月 (means next, not last) |
下雨了 is perfect. Chinese weather verbs don't need an 'it' subject.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| It's raining | 下雨了 | 它下雨了 (robot translation) |
| Heavy rain | 下大雨了 | 下大下雨 (wrong order) |
| Will rain tomorrow | 明天会下雨 | 明天下雨会 (wrong order) |
Why would a millionaire leave a table of lobster and wagyu untouched? This story explores the hidden rules of business dining and the true cost of staying alert.
旁边的人都在给他敬酒，他每次都端起来酒杯，嘴唇沾沾杯沿就 放下 。
可他一开口，整桌人都 停下来 听。
他说今年出口不好做，运费涨了三成，利润压到五个点 以下 。
他说，不撑怎么办， 底下 三百多个人等着发工资。
偶尔转过来跟我点个头，笑 一下儿 。
路上他接了个电话，语气 一下子 变了，变得有点儿凶。
他没接，按了静音，翻过去扣在腿上，屏幕 朝下 。
我 下车 。
他 摇下 车窗跟我说了句，改天有空儿来我办公室坐坐。
This short, soothing piece is about missing someone on a rainy night. The sentences are simple and repeat often, so you can practice reading while feeling the warm emotion.
这个晚上， 下雨 了。
我看着电脑， 写下 了几个字：小雨，我想你。
今天，你那里 下雨 了吗？
Follow Dazhong, a busy worker in China, as he finds warmth and kindness at a small noodle shop. Practice everyday words for food, weather, and expressing gratitude.
他天天上午八点上班，晚上九点 下班 。
一天晚上，外边 下 大雨，天气非常冷。
大中有太多的工作，晚上十点 下班 。
Before you read, close your eyes and imagine a rainy afternoon. This story uses simple HSK 1 words to show how rain can become a talking friend.
这个 下午 ，天气很好。
下雨 了。
雨 不下 了。
Step through a full day—from morning routines to bedtime—and pick up practical phrases for telling time and talking about your own schedule with a typical Chinese rhyme.
下午 还上班。
下班 五点半，回家吃晚饭。
Read about a work trip to Beijing where a group of colleagues takes a very large airplane. Practice weather words and actions in a simple travel story.
到北京的时候，北京正在 下 大雨。
我们 下 飞机的时候是白天，但是天气有一点儿冷。
This playful poem will make you smile as you explore how Chinese words like 'computer' and 'phone' can be funnier than they seem. Get ready to enjoy simple HSK 1 vocabulary and a twist of logic!
上班和 下班 ，上课和 下课 ，上午和 下午 。
下雨 不“上雨”， 下雪 没“上雪”。
Meet Dr. Mi, a doctor and teacher at Sichuan University. This simple HSK 1 story shows his daily routine from morning to night, helping you learn time expressions and everyday activities.
他 下午 五点半 下班 回家，六点多到家。
休息 一下儿 ，晚上七点，他吃晚饭。
Follow Xiao Li as he copes with the effects of forest fires near his home in the US and reflects on environmental changes. A thoughtful story for HSK 4 learners.
可是今年很奇怪，天上很少有云，也很少 下雨 ，一直非常热。
小李想，要是天气还这么热，还不 下雨 ，整个森林都要烧没了。
Join a family on a sweltering Beijing Sunday as a boy learns a funny lesson about playing outside in the summer heat. Perfect for HSK 1 learners.
“现在是 下午 ，天气太热“。
我和我爱人在北京七月的 下午 两点，坐上车和儿子去学校。
Follow a day from waking at six-thirty to coming home at eight, then leap across days, months, and years. This simple story helps you practice speaking about routines and life changes with clear time words.
上 下午 ，去明年。
下午 五点半 下班 。
In this dialogue, two people chat while waiting outside a cinema. You'll hear common phrases for talking about hobbies, sports, and movie preferences.
问一下儿 ，你在等人吗？
This simple HSK 2 story introduces a warm family of six. Follow Little Bao and his British wife as they raise their two green-eyed children, each with their own personality.
弟弟太小，也不喜欢画画儿，一会儿 跳上跳下 ，一会儿跑来跑去。
This heartwarming story reveals the quiet devotion of a father. As you read, notice the repeated actions and how a simple cup of tea becomes meaningful.
他天天晚上九点 下班 ，我坐在七号桌子前看他。
Think instant noodles are unhealthy? This HSK 6 article challenges common myths and reveals surprising facts about nutrition, oil, and salt in this convenient food.
看 一下 “人体所需营养”目录，就明白一个人最好每天吃10到30种以上的食物，这样才能得到各种各样的营养。
Is four years to reach HSK 5 fast or slow? Follow a conversation between two learners as they compare study hours and share realistic strategies for busy adults.
我自己还 下了 一个APP，做HSK题，自己学了最多两百个小时。
A young man helps an old man look for his cat. But the real surprise is why the old man wanted to find the cat. Read on to learn about kindness and friendship.
一天 下午 ，白天明去三号房间看老先生。
This playful rhyme helps you learn family words in Chinese. Practice saying who's who with simple questions and answers!
人人爱学习，天天去学校，上午读读书， 下午 写写字。
Enjoy this simple story about a patient and a mysterious apple. It shows how a small act of kindness can make someone feel at home, and you'll learn key words for feelings and daily life.
天天 下午 ，桌子上都会多出一个很大的苹果。
Meet Xiao Shang, who is heading back to Shanghai. She compares two ways to travel and tells us why she prefers the slower one. This story helps you practice comparing transportation in simple Chinese.
她 下个月 要回上海。
Welcome! This short poem helps you practice the months, weekdays, and mealtimes in Chinese. Read it aloud and notice the rhythm. You already know many of these words!
下午 下午 茶，晚上吃晚饭。
Read this short story about people waiting in the rain for a new phone. You will practice numbers, time, and everyday vocabulary.
下雨 了，大家都没有回去。
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