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How to Say ‘It started last night.’ in Traditional Chinese

昨天晚上開始。

zuó tiān wǎn shàng kāi shǐ

[dzwaw-tyen wahn shahng kāishǐ]

💬 Usage Tip: In Chinese the time comes before the verb, which is the reverse of English "started last night". Swap the time to fit your situation: 今天早上開始 "started this morning".

Phrase Breakdown

昨天晚上

zuó tiān wǎn shàng

last night

昨天 (zuótiān) means 'yesterday' and 晚上 (wǎnshang) means 'evening'. Together they mean 'last night'.

Example

我昨天晚上很累。

I was very tired last night.

Words in this phrase

昨天

zuó tiān

[dzwaw-tyen]

yesterday

昨天 means the day before today.

Example

昨天我去參加職涯活動。

Yesterday I went to a career event.

晚上

wǎn shàng

[wahn shahng]

evening; night

The time after late afternoon and before bedtime.

Example

週三晚上見面比較方便。

Meeting on Wednesday evening is more convenient.

開始。

kāi shǐ

(it) started

開始 (kāishǐ) means 'to start / begin'. Both syllables are clear and stressed.

Example

上課開始了。

Class has started.

Words in this phrase

開始

kāi shǐ

[kāishǐ]

to start; to begin

Verb meaning to begin an action or event.

Example

會議九點開始。

The meeting starts at nine.

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