三月 · 三个月
when (a point) vs how long (a length)
Structure
时点 + 动词 · 动词 + 时段 · 三月 ≠ 三个月
What it means
A time point answers “when?” (三月 March, 三点 three o’clock); a length answers “how long?” (三个月 three months, 三天 three days).
How it is built
Time point + verb; verb + length: 我三月去中国，要住三个月 (I’m going to China in March, and I’ll stay three months).
When to use it
天, 年, 周 and 分钟 are units already, so no 个: 三天, 两年, 一周. 月 must have 个: 三个月. 小时 and 星期 usually take 个: 三个小时, 两个星期.
Watch out
三月 is March, not three months. ✗ 我住了三月。 ✓ 我住了三个月。 A time point goes before the verb: ✗ 我去中国三月 ✓ 我三月去中国.
Examples
我三月去中国，要住三个月。
I’m going to China in March, and I’ll stay three months.
他星期三来，住三天。
He’s coming on Wednesday and staying three days.
我在西安玩了一周。
I spent a week in Xi’an.
Learn this in HSK 2 · Lesson 7: 你去过西安吗 (Have you been there?)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
Open the lesson →