How to Say ‘Generally, you need to cancel by 8:00 pm. the day before.’ in Simplified Chinese
一般要在前一天晚上八点前取消。
yì bān yào zài qián yī tiān wǎn shàng bā diǎn qián qǔ xiāo
[ee-ban yaow dzeye chyen ee tyen wahn-shahng bah-dyen chyen chyoo-shyaow]
💬 Usage Tip: Chinese often puts all the time information before the verb: [一般要在前一天晚上八点前取消]. A good pattern to copy is [要在 + time + verb], like [要在今天下午前回复].
Phrase Breakdown
一般
yì bān
[ee-ban]
generally; usually
Used to describe what commonly happens or the usual rule in most situations.
一般要在前一天晚上八点前取消。很多餐厅都是这样规定的。
Generally, you need to cancel before 8 p.m. the day before. Many restaurants set the rule this way.
要在
yào zài
must be at; need to be by
Indicates a requirement that something happens by a certain time.
要在明天前完成。
It must be completed by tomorrow.
Words in this phrase
要
yào
[yaow]
need to; must
Shows necessity or requirement, often used in rules, policies, and instructions.
一般要在前一天晚上八点前取消。这里“要”表示必须。
Generally, you need to cancel before 8 p.m. the day before. Here, 要 means it is required.
在
zài
[dzeye]
at; by; before
Introduces the time by which the required action should happen.
一般要在前一天晚上八点前取消。这里“在”引出时间。
Generally, you need to cancel before 8 p.m. the day before. Here, 在 introduces the time.
前一天
qián yī tiān
the day before
The day immediately before the target day.
前一天晚上要打电话。
Call the night before.
Words in this phrase
前
qián
[chyen]
before
Shows the action must be completed earlier than 8 p.m.; this is the deadline marker.
一般要在前一天晚上八点前取消。第二个“前”表示八点以前。
Generally, you need to cancel before 8 p.m. the day before. The second 前 means before 8 o'clock.
一
yī
[ee]
one
The number one; here it specifies one day before the meal.
一般要在前一天晚上八点前取消。这里“一”表示一天。
Generally, you need to cancel before 8 p.m. the day before. Here, 一 means one day.
天
tiān
[tyen]
day
A time unit meaning day; here it helps form 'the previous day.'
一般要在前一天晚上八点前取消。这里“天”是日期单位。
Generally, you need to cancel before 8 p.m. the day before. Here, 天 is the unit of days.
晚上八点前
wǎn shàng bā diǎn qián
before 8 p.m. the night before
A deadline phrase indicating the latest time allowed.
请在晚上八点前回复。
Please reply before 8 p.m.
Words in this phrase
晚上
wǎn shàng
[wahn-shahng]
evening; night
Refers to the evening period; in this sentence it narrows the deadline to the evening.
一般要在前一天晚上八点前取消。这里“晚上”说明是夜间时间。
Generally, you need to cancel before 8 p.m. the day before. Here, 晚上 shows it is an evening time.
八点
bā diǎn
[bah-dyen]
eight o'clock
A specific clock time used as the deadline in this policy sentence.
一般要在前一天晚上八点前取消。这里“八点”就是截止时间。
Generally, you need to cancel before 8 p.m. the day before. Here, 八点 is the deadline.
前
qián
[chyen]
before
Shows the action must be completed earlier than 8 p.m.; this is the deadline marker.
一般要在前一天晚上八点前取消。第二个“前”表示八点以前。
Generally, you need to cancel before 8 p.m. the day before. The second 前 means before 8 o'clock.
取消
qǔ xiāo
[chyoo-shyaow]
cancel
To call off a reservation or plan; here it refers to canceling a restaurant booking.
一般要在前一天晚上八点前取消。太晚取消可能有费用。
Generally, you need to cancel before 8 p.m. the day before. Canceling too late may have a fee.
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