n.
bell; clock
钟
bell; clock
Refers to both physical clocks and bells. In telling time, it appears in 几点钟 (what time) and 分钟 (minutes).
Common Usage & Traps
- 闹钟 — alarm clock
- 钟表 — clocks and watches; timepieces
- 钟声 — bell sound; chime
- 分钟 — minute
- 点钟 — o'clock, as in 三点钟
-
手钟手表A watch you wear is 表, not 钟. 钟 is for fixed clocks, so 手钟 sounds like a clock strapped to your arm.
-
打钟敲钟For ringing a bell, Chinese pairs 敲 with 钟. 打钟 sounds like you are physically hitting a clock.
-
三钟三分钟钟 alone is not a minute unit. For minutes, you need 分钟.
Why does 分钟 (minute) contain 钟 if 钟 means bell or clock?
钟 in 分钟 is a timekeeping unit, not a bell.
钟 first meant a bell, then a clock. In 分钟, it marks a slice of time, not a physical bell. So 分钟 literally feels like a minute unit on the clock. That is why the bell meaning disappears in modern use.
“分钟钟在哪儿？” (Where is the 'bell' in 'minute'?)
“分钟钟在哪儿？” (Where is the 'bell' in 'minute'?)
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 钟 in 分钟 | A time unit on a clock | A literal bell |
| Minute phrase | 三分钟就到。 | 三钟就到。 |
| Everyday sense | 分钟 = minute | 钟 alone = minute |
When should I use 钟 and when should I use 表 for clocks and watches?
钟 is a clock; 表 is a watch. Wearable timepieces are 表, not 钟.
If it sits on a wall, desk, or tower, call it 钟. If you wear it on your wrist or carry it, call it 表. So 闹钟 is an alarm clock, but 手表 is a wristwatch. Saying 手钟 for a watch sounds wrong to native ears.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed timepiece | 钟, 挂钟, 闹钟 | 表 for a wall clock |
| Wearable timepiece | 手表, 怀表 | 手钟 |
| General pair | 钟表 = clocks and watches | 表钟 |
Featured in Story Deep Dive
Follow how this word unfolds across the narrative arc of this graded story.
This playful HSK 1 poem twists words you already know and asks how an hour can be small. Read it aloud and laugh; a fun way to practice Chinese.
- Scene #1
分钟 钟 在哪儿？
Questions & Discussion 0 questions
No questions or discussions yet. Have a question about this character/word? Be the first to ask!