How to Say “Today” in Chinese
Time and dates · HSK 1
"Today" in Chinese is 今天 (jīn tiān). 今天 (jīntiān) is the standalone "today". The day-relative set is 昨天 (yesterday), 今天 (today), 明天 (tomorrow), 后天 (the day after tomorrow), 前天 (the day before yesterday).
Primary translation
今天
jīn tiān
When to use it
今天 (jīntiān) is the standalone "today". The day-relative set is 昨天 (yesterday), 今天 (today), 明天 (tomorrow), 后天 (the day after tomorrow), 前天 (the day before yesterday). Chinese day-words do not combine with prepositions; say 今天早上 (this morning) not 在今天 (at today). For "this afternoon" use 今天下午. Calendar dates use 月 (month) and 号 (day): 四月二十二号 (April 22).
Example sentences
今天是星期几？
Jīntiān shì xīngqī jǐ?
What day of the week is today?
今天天气很好。
Jīntiān tiānqì hěn hǎo.
The weather is great today.
今天我没有时间。
Jīntiān wǒ méiyǒu shíjiān.
I do not have time today.