How to Say “Noon” in Chinese
Time and dates · new HSK 1
"Noon" in Chinese is 中午 (zhōng wǔ). 中午 covers roughly 11am to 1pm; basically 'lunchtime window,' not the precise clock-strike of noon. For exactly 12:00 you'd say 中午十二点 (zhōngwǔ shí'èr diǎn) or 正午 (zhèngwǔ, 'true noon'), which sounds more formal/poetic.
Primary translation
中午
zhōng wǔ
When to use it
中午 covers roughly 11am to 1pm; basically 'lunchtime window,' not the precise clock-strike of noon. For exactly 12:00 you'd say 中午十二点 (zhōngwǔ shí'èr diǎn) or 正午 (zhèngwǔ, 'true noon'), which sounds more formal/poetic. Culturally, 中午 is sacred: most Chinese offices and schools take a 午休 (wǔxiū, noon rest) of 1–2 hours, and older folks genuinely nap at their desks. Don't call someone's phone at 12:30 unless it's urgent; you'll be interrupting their 午觉 (wǔjiào, noon nap).
Example sentences
我们中午一起吃饭吧。
Wǒ men zhōng wǔ yī qǐ chī fàn ba.
Let's have lunch together at noon.
中午十二点在公司门口见。
Zhōng wǔ shí èr diǎn zài gōng sī mén kǒu jiàn.
See you at the company entrance at 12 noon.
中午太阳最大，别出去。
Zhōng wǔ tài yáng zuì dà, bié chū qù.
The sun is strongest at noon, don't go outside.
Related phrases
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