Embodiments of this application provide a timing method and a communication apparatus. The method includes: A clock management network element receives a clock request message from at least one terminal device. The clock request message includes an identifier of the terminal device and timing precision requested by the terminal device, and the at least one terminal device includes a second terminal device that requests first timing precision. The clock management network element determines that a first clock deployed on a first terminal device meets the first timing precision. The clock management network element sends first timing configuration information to the first terminal device. The first timing configuration information includes an identifier of the second terminal device. This application can optimize a manner in which the first terminal device performs timing for the second terminal device, to implement timing information isolation.