How to Say “In five minutes” in Chinese
Time and dates · HSK 2
"In five minutes" in Chinese is 五分钟后 (wǔ fēn zhōng hòu). In Chinese, time duration before 后 (hòu, 'after') expresses 'in X time from now.' So 五分钟后 literally means 'after five minutes,' which English speakers flip to 'in five minutes.
Primary translation
五分钟后
wǔ fēn zhōng hòu
Traditional: 五分鐘後
When to use it
In Chinese, time duration before 后 (hòu, 'after') expresses 'in X time from now.' So 五分钟后 literally means 'after five minutes,' which English speakers flip to 'in five minutes.' A common learner mistake is saying 在五分钟; don't use 在 here. If you want to sound more natural in speech, drop 钟 and say 五分后, or add 再 (zài) as in 五分钟后再打给你 ('I'll call you back in five minutes'). The measure word 分钟 is the full form; 分 alone works when context is clear.
Example sentences
我五分钟后到。
Wǒ wǔ fēn zhōng hòu dào.
I'll be there in five minutes.
会议五分钟后开始。
Huìyì wǔ fēn zhōng hòu kāishǐ.
The meeting starts in five minutes.
五分钟后给我打电话好吗？
Wǔ fēn zhōng hòu gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà hǎo ma?
Can you call me in five minutes?