noun HSK 2
noon · midday
Meaning
午 refers to the middle of the day, specifically noon or the time around 11am-1pm. It's most commonly seen in compound words rather than used alone. The character originally depicted the sun at its highest point in the sky.
Usage
午 rarely appears by itself in modern Chinese. It's almost always part of compound words like 中午 (noon), 上午 (morning), 下午 (afternoon), or 午饭 (lunch). When telling time or describing parts of the day, native speakers use these compounds rather than 午 alone.
Examples
- 01我们中午一起吃饭吧。.Let's eat together at noon.
- 02今天上午我有三节课。.I have three classes this morning.
Common collocations
- 中午noon
- 上午morning
- 下午afternoon
- 午餐lunch
Antonyms
Origin
The character 午 is one of the Earthly Branches in traditional Chinese timekeeping, representing the hours from 11am to 1pm. The pictograph may have originally shown a pestle, but became associated with noon in the zodiac system.