（在）+ 时段 + 内
within (a time limit); no later than
Structure
（在） 时段 内 ＋ 动词 ／ 自…之日起 时段 内 ＋ 动词 ／ 时段 之内
What it means
Within a time limit, no later than: the action must or will happen before that stretch of time is up.
How it is built
（在）+ length of time + 内 + verb, with the start fixed by 自…之日起 or …后: 对裁决不服的，可以在15天内向法院起诉 (you can go to court within fifteen days).
When to use it
Laws, contracts, notices, news. 在 is often dropped (三个工作日内). 之内 is a bit more emphatic; 以内 mostly limits amounts and distances (五公里以内). In speech: 不出两个星期.
Watch out
Not 后: 15天内起诉 means no later than day 15, 15天后起诉 not before it. The time comes first: ✗ 内15天 ✓ 15天内.
Examples
对裁决不服的，可以在15天内向法院起诉。
A worker unhappy with the ruling can go to court within fifteen days.
员工应当在收到通知后三个工作日内到人事部门办理手续。
Employees must complete the formalities at the personnel department within three working days of receiving the notice.
新规定要求，商家必须在七天内为顾客办理退款。
Under the new rules, shops must refund customers within seven days.
Learn this in Lesson 182 · HSK 7–9: 讨个说法 (Getting what you are owed)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. This lesson is free.
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