How to Say “An hour from now” in Chinese
Time and dates · HSK 3
"An hour from now" in Chinese is 一个小时后 (yī gè xiǎoshí hòu). 小时 (xiǎoshí) is the standard word for 'hour' and needs the measure word 个 (gè) before it; 一个小时. In spoken Mandarin, especially in Taiwan and southern China, you'll also hear 钟头 (zhōngtóu), as in 一个钟头.
Primary translation
一个小时后
yī gè xiǎoshí hòu
Traditional: 一個小時後
Variants by register
Casual
一小时后
yī xiǎoshí hòu
When to use it
小时 (xiǎoshí) is the standard word for 'hour' and needs the measure word 个 (gè) before it; 一个小时. In spoken Mandarin, especially in Taiwan and southern China, you'll also hear 钟头 (zhōngtóu), as in 一个钟头. Dropping 个 (一小时后) is fine in writing or news headlines but sounds clipped in speech. Note the tone sandhi: 一 changes to yí before 4th-tone 个 (yí gè), so natives actually say yí gè xiǎoshí hòu. Use 以后 (yǐhòu) for a vaguer 'later than an hour from now.'
Example sentences
一个小时后见。
Yí gè xiǎoshí hòu jiàn.
See you in an hour.
飞机一个小时后起飞。
Fēijī yí gè xiǎoshí hòu qǐfēi.
The plane takes off an hour from now.
我一个小时后下班。
Wǒ yí gè xiǎoshí hòu xiàbān.
I get off work an hour from now.