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倒计时 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
倒计时dàojìshíto count downHSK 7, unknown, 21 strokes, Very Hard
倒计时dàojìshícountdownHSK 7, unknown, 21 strokes, Very Hard
dàojìshí(dao4ji4shi2)dao ji shi T4
  1. 1to count down
  2. 2countdown
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March 24, 2026

倒计时(倒計時)dàojìshí(dao4ji4shi2)

倒计时 (dào jì shí) refers to the process of counting down to a specific event, typically marking the time remaining until that event occurs. Commonly used in contexts such as New Year celebrations, sporting events, and project deadlines, it emphasizes the urgency and anticipation leading up to the event.

Strokes21DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, countdowns are significant during major celebrations, especially during the Lunar New Year, where the countdown to midnight is a highly anticipated moment. It symbolizes new beginnings and the hope for a prosperous year ahead.

Memory tip

Imagine a clock that is '倒' (upside down) as it counts down the seconds to a big event. The character '倒' looks like something is falling or reversing, which fits the idea of a countdown, while '计时' suggests measuring time. Picture this clock in a race where every second matters!

Meanings of 倒计时

dàojìshí(dao4ji4shi2)
1to count down
2countdown
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About 倒计时

倒计时Simplified
倒計時Traditional
21Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

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Podcast: 倒计时

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AI study notes for 倒计时

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 倒计时 with just 计时, which means 'timing' or 'measuring time' without the countdown aspect. 倒计时 is more informal and often used in celebratory or competitive contexts. Make sure to use the correct tone for each character: dào, jì, and shí.

HSK Study Tips

倒计时 is a useful term for HSK Level 4 learners, as it combines common characters that are frequently used in everyday conversations. Focus on understanding the components of the term, especially how 倒 expresses 'down' or 'reverse,' and practice using it in sentences related to events.

Common Mistakes

Learners often say 倒时间 (dào shí jiān) mistakenly thinking it means countdown, but the correct term is 倒计时. Additionally, they might forget to use the correct tones, which can lead to misunderstandings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 倒计时

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Component characters

倒dàoto fall
HSK 410 strokes亻
View full entry
计jìto calculate
HSK 74 strokes讠
View full entry
时shío'clock
HSK 27 strokes日
View full entry

How to say to count down in Chinese

“to count down” in Chinese is倒计时dàojìshí

倒计时 (dào jì shí) refers to the process of counting down to a specific event, typically marking the time remaining until that event occurs. Commonly used in contexts such as New Year celebrations, sporting events, and project deadlines, it emphasizes the urgency and anticipation leading up to the event.

When to use 倒计时

Be careful not to confuse 倒计时 with just 计时, which means 'timing' or 'measuring time' without the countdown aspect. 倒计时 is more informal and often used in celebratory or competitive contexts. Make sure to use the correct tone for each character: dào, jì, and shí.

What learners get wrong

Learners often say 倒时间 (dào shí jiān) mistakenly thinking it means countdown, but the correct term is 倒计时. Additionally, they might forget to use the correct tones, which can lead to misunderstandings.

Write 倒计时

倒
计
时

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Frequently asked questions about 倒计时

倒计时 is commonly used for events like New Year's Eve, sports events, and the start of a concert.

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