A subframe scheduling method, wherein the method is applied to a base station and comprises: when preempting an unlicensed carrier, obtaining, by the base station, a starting position of the preempted unlicensed carrier; determining a first number and a type of a first subframe based on the starting position, wherein the first number is a symbol number corresponding to the starting position that is used by the base station to send data, and the first subframe is a subframe in which a symbol corresponding to the first number is located; and sending the type of the first subframe and the first number to a terminal, characterized in that a quantity of symbols comprised in a mini-slot is greater than 0 and is less than 7, and when the quantity of symbols comprised in the mini-slot is variable, the determining a first number and a type of a first subframe based on the starting position comprises: when the starting position is a symbol boundary and the symbol number corresponding to the starting position is 0, determining that the type of the first subframe is a subframe, and determining that the first number is 0; when the starting position is a symbol boundary and the symbol number corresponding to the starting position is greater than 0 and is less than 7, determining that the type of the first subframe is a mini-slot and a slot, and determining that the first number is the symbol number corresponding to the starting position; when the starting position is not a symbol boundary and the symbol number corresponding to the starting position is greater than or equal to 0 and is less than 6, determining that the type of the first subframe is a mini-slot and a slot, and determining that the first number is a next number adjacent to the symbol number corresponding to the starting position; or when the starting position is not a symbol boundary and the symbol number corresponding to the starting position is 6, determining that the type of the first subframe is a slot, and determining that the first number is 7. when preempting an unlicensed carrier, obtaining, by the base station, a starting position of the preempted unlicensed carrier; determining a first number and a type of a first subframe based on the starting position, wherein the first number is a symbol number corresponding to the starting position that is used by the base station to send data, and the first subframe is a subframe in which a symbol corresponding to the first number is located; and sending the type of the first subframe and the first number to a terminal, characterized in that a quantity of symbols comprised in a mini-slot is greater than 0 and is less than 7, and when the quantity of symbols comprised in the mini-slot is variable, the determining a first number and a type of a first subframe based on the starting position comprises: when the starting position is a symbol boundary and the symbol number corresponding to the starting position is 0, determining that the type of the first subframe is a subframe, and determining that the first number is 0; when the starting position is a symbol boundary and the symbol number corresponding to the starting position is greater than 0 and is less than 7, determining that the type of the first subframe is a mini-slot and a slot, and determining that the first number is the symbol number corresponding to the starting position; when the starting position is not a symbol boundary and the symbol number corresponding to the starting position is greater than or equal to 0 and is less than 6, determining that the type of the first subframe is a mini-slot and a slot, and determining that the first number is a next number adjacent to the symbol number corresponding to the starting position; or when the starting position is not a symbol boundary and the symbol number corresponding to the starting position is 6, determining that the type of the first subframe is a slot, and determining that the first number is 7. when the starting position is a symbol boundary and the symbol number corresponding to the starting position is 0, determining that the type of the first subframe is a subframe, and determining that the first number is 0; when the starting position is a symbol boundary and the symbol number corresponding to the starting position is greater than 0 and is less than 7, determining that the type of the first subframe is a mini-slot and a slot, and determining that the first number is the symbol number corresponding to the starting position; when the starting position is not a symbol boundary and the symbol number corresponding to the starting position is greater than or equal to 0 and is less than 6, determining that the type of the first subframe is a mini-slot and a slot, and determining that the first number is a next number adjacent to the symbol number corresponding to the starting position; or when the starting position is not a symbol boundary and the symbol number corresponding to the starting position is 6, determining that the type of the first subframe is a slot, and determining that the first number is 7.