How to Say “Yesterday” in Chinese
Time and dates · HSK 1
Quick Answer
"Yesterday" in Chinese is 昨天 (zuó tiān). 昨天 (zuótiān) is yesterday. 前天 is the day before yesterday; 大前天 is two days before that.
Primary translation
昨天
zuó tiān
When to use it
昨天 (zuótiān) is yesterday. 前天 is the day before yesterday; 大前天 is two days before that. Past tense in Chinese comes from adding 了 (le) to verbs; time markers like 昨天 do the heavy lifting: 昨天我去了北京 (yesterday I went to Beijing). For ranges use "from X to Y": 从昨天到今天 (from yesterday to today). 昨晚 is last night; 昨天晚上 is the full form.
Example sentences
昨天我没上班。
Zuótiān wǒ méi shàngbān.
I did not work yesterday.
昨天晚上下雨了。
Zuótiān wǎnshang xiàyǔ le.
It rained last night.
昨天你去哪里了？
Zuótiān nǐ qù nǎlǐ le?
Where did you go yesterday?