dàhòutiān: 大后天 - The Day After the Day After Tomorrow / Three Days From Now
Quick Summary
- Keywords: dàhòutiān, 大后天, three days from now in Chinese, dahoutian, Chinese words for future days, Chinese time words, day after the day after tomorrow, how to say three days later, 后天, HSK 3 vocabulary
- Summary: Learn how to say “three days from now” in Chinese with the common term 大后天 (dàhòutiān). This entry breaks down the characters, explains the cultural logic behind Chinese time words, and provides dozens of practical examples. Understand the key difference between 大后天 (dàhòutiān) and 三天后 (sān tiān hòu) to schedule plans like a native speaker.
Core Meaning
- Pinyin (with tone marks): dàhòutiān
- Part of Speech: Noun (Time Noun)
- HSK Level: HSK 3
- Concise Definition: The day after the day after tomorrow; three days from today.
- In a Nutshell: 大后天 (dàhòutiān) is the specific, standard word for “three days from now.” While English speakers switch to a phrase (“in three days”) after “tomorrow,” Chinese has a clear sequence of single words for the upcoming days: `今天` (today), `明天` (tomorrow), `后天` (the day after tomorrow), and `大后天` (three days from now). It's a fundamental word for making plans and scheduling.
Character Breakdown
- 大 (dà): Meaning “big,” “large,” or “great.” In this context, it acts as a prefix to mean “one step further” or “beyond.”
- 后 (hòu): Meaning “after,” “back,” or “behind.”
- 天 (tiān): Meaning “day” or “sky.”
These characters combine logically. `后天 (hòutiān)` literally means “after-day,” which is “the day after tomorrow.” By adding `大 (dà)`, or “big,” you get `大后天 (dàhòutiān)`, which can be thought of as “the big after-day”—the one that comes even after `后天`. It extends the sequence in a very intuitive way.
Cultural Context and Significance
The existence of 大后天 (dàhòutiān) highlights a linguistic difference in how Chinese and English conceptualize the near future. English has specific words for today (“today”) and the next day (“tomorrow”). For two days out, it often uses a descriptive phrase (“the day after tomorrow”), and for three days out, it defaults to a numerical phrase (“in three days,” “three days from now”). Chinese, in contrast, uses a set of discrete, concrete nouns for a longer sequence:
- `今天 (jīntiān)` - today
- `明天 (míngtiān)` - tomorrow
- `后天 (hòutiān)` - the day after tomorrow
- `大后天 (dàhòutiān)` - three days from now
This reflects a preference for specific, established terms for the immediate, plannable future. It's less about a deep philosophical value and more about a linguistic pattern that provides clarity and efficiency when discussing schedules. The symmetrical nature of this system is also seen when talking about the past, with `前天 (qiántiān)` (the day before yesterday) and `大前天 (dàqiántiān)` (three days ago).
Practical Usage in Modern China
大后天 (dàhòutiān) is an extremely common, everyday word used in both spoken and written Chinese.
- Making Plans: It's the default way to schedule an event three days into the future. You'll hear it constantly when people arrange dinners, meetings, or travel.
- Stating Deadlines: It's used for setting short-term deadlines for work or school assignments.
- Formality: The term is neutral and can be used in almost any situation, from a casual chat with friends to a formal business email. While `三天后 (sān tiān hòu)` (“three days later”) also exists, `大后天` is often preferred when the reference point is clearly “today.”
If today is a Monday, 大后天 is always Thursday. It is a fixed point in time relative to the present day.
Example Sentences
- Example 1:
- 我们大后天一起吃饭吧！
- Pinyin: Wǒmen dàhòutiān yīqǐ chīfàn ba!
- English: Let's have a meal together three days from now!
- Analysis: A classic example of making a casual social plan.
- Example 2:
- 他的生日是大后天，你准备礼物了吗？
- Pinyin: Tā de shēngrì shì dàhòutiān, nǐ zhǔnbèi lǐwù le ma?
- English: His birthday is three days from now, have you prepared a gift?
- Analysis: Using `大后天` to specify the date of an upcoming event.
- Example 3:
- 这份报告大后天必须交。
- Pinyin: Zhè fèn bàogào dàhòutiān bìxū jiāo.
- English: This report must be handed in three days from now.
- Analysis: Demonstrates its use for setting a firm deadline.
- Example 4:
- 大后天的天气怎么样？
- Pinyin: Dàhòutiān de tiānqì zěnmeyàng?
- English: What's the weather like three days from now?
- Analysis: A common question when checking a weather forecast.
- Example 5:
- 我大后天要去上海出差。
- Pinyin: Wǒ dàhòutiān yào qù Shànghǎi chūchāi.
- English: I'm going to Shanghai on a business trip in three days.
- Analysis: Clearly stating a future travel plan.
- Example 6:
- 你能大后天下午三点来我办公室吗？
- Pinyin: Nǐ néng dàhòutiān xiàwǔ sān diǎn lái wǒ bàngōngshì ma?
- English: Can you come to my office at 3 PM three days from now?
- Analysis: Shows how `大后天` can be combined with a specific time of day.
- Example 7:
- 如果今天星期二，那大后天就是星期五。
- Pinyin: Rúguǒ jīntiān xīngqī'èr, nà dàhòutiān jiùshì xīngqīwǔ.
- English: If today is Tuesday, then three days from now is Friday.
- Analysis: A sentence that explicitly defines the term's meaning.
- Example 8:
- 别担心，包裹大后天就到了。
- Pinyin: Bié dānxīn, bāoguǒ dàhòutiān jiù dào le.
- English: Don't worry, the package will arrive in three days.
- Analysis: The particle `就 (jiù)` adds a sense of reassurance that it will arrive “as soon as” three days from now.
- Example 9:
- 电影票我已经买好了，是大后天晚上的。
- Pinyin: Diànyǐng piào wǒ yǐjīng mǎi hǎo le, shì dàhòutiān wǎnshang de.
- English: I've already bought the movie tickets; they're for the evening three days from now.
- Analysis: Used to confirm the timing of a pre-arranged activity.
- Example 10:
- 他说他大后天会给我们一个答复。
- Pinyin: Tā shuō tā dàhòutiān huì gěi wǒmen yī ge dáfù.
- English: He said he would give us a reply in three days.
- Analysis: Reporting what someone else has planned or promised.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
- `大后天 (dàhòutiān)` vs. `后天 (hòutiān)`: This is the most common point of confusion. Remember the sequence:
- `明天 (míngtiān)`: 1 day from now
- `后天 (hòutiān)`: 2 days from now
- `大后天 (dàhòutiān)`: 3 days from now
- The `大 (dà)` adds one more day.
- `大后天 (dàhòutiān)` vs. `三天后 (sān tiān hòu)`: This is a subtle but important difference.
- `大后天` specifically means “the calendar day that is three days after today.” Its reference point is always the present.
- `三天后 (sān tiān hòu)` means “three days later” or “after three days.” Its reference point can be any time, past or future.
- Correct Usage:
- 今天是星期一，我大后天去北京。(Today is Monday, I will go to Beijing on Thursday.)
- 他上个星期一到的，三天后就走了。(He arrived last Monday and left three days later [on Thursday].)
- Incorrect Usage:
- He arrived last Monday, and will leave three days from now (relative to today).
- Incorrect: 他上个星期一到的，大后天走。
- Why it's wrong: This sentence is confusing. It mixes a past reference (“last Monday”) with a term (`大后天`) that is anchored to the present day. The listener won't know if the departure is three days after last Monday or three days from today. `三天后` is much clearer in this context.
Related Terms and Concepts
- The “Today” Sequence (Past):
- The “Today” Sequence (Present & Future):
- Alternative and Related Expressions: