Difference between revisions of "Structure of times (basic)"
| Line 19: | Line 19: | ||
=== Examples === | === Examples === | ||
| − | If you want to include more specific information, start with the day or date, followed by the general time of day, with the exact clock time last. (This is the big-to-small pattern.) | + | If you want to include more specific information, start with the day or date, followed by the general time of day, with the exact clock time last. (This is the big-to-small pattern.) This is how Chinese gets around the need for "a.m." or "p.m.": use 上午 (shàngwǔ) for times in the morning, and 下午 (xiàwǔ) for times in the afternoon. |
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
Revision as of 02:48, 7 June 2017
-
Level
-
Similar to
-
Used for
-
Keywords
.jpg)
Time in Chinese, just like in English, is expressed by stating the hour first, and then the minute (big to small).
Contents
On the Hour
The time of day in Chinese is formed with a number 1 to 12 (一 (yī) to 十二 (shí'èr)) followed by 点 (diăn). This 点 (diăn) is equivalent to o'clock in English. In China, people generally use a twelve-hour clock, preceded by 上午 (shàngwŭ) for "a.m." or 下午 (xiàwŭ) for "p.m." when necessary.
Structure
(Date and/or time of day +) x 点
Sometimes people use the longer 点钟 (diǎnzhōng) instead of just 点 (diǎn), but you're fine using the short form.
Examples
If you want to include more specific information, start with the day or date, followed by the general time of day, with the exact clock time last. (This is the big-to-small pattern.) This is how Chinese gets around the need for "a.m." or "p.m.": use 上午 (shàngwǔ) for times in the morning, and 下午 (xiàwǔ) for times in the afternoon.
- 九 点9 o'clock
- 上午 七 点7 o'clock a.m.
- 下午 四 点4 o'clock p.m.
- 中午 十二 点 12 o'clock noon
- 明天 晚上 七 点7 o'clock p.m. tomorrow evening
- 9 月 9 号 早上 六 点September 9th, 6 o'clock a.m.
- 星期三 上午 九 点Wednesday at 9 o'clock a.m.
Note that two o'clock is 两点 (liǎng diǎn), not 二点 (èr diǎn). (For more information on when to use 两 (liǎng) vs. 二 (èr), see our article on comparing "er" and "liang").
"Twelve o'clock," however, is still 十二点 (shí'èr diǎn).
Half Hours
Half hours are added after 点 (diăn) and are indicated with 半 (bàn).
Structure
x 点 + 半
Examples
- 五 点 半5:30
- 下午 两 点 半2:30 p.m.
- 星期天 上午 十 点 半 Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
- 昨天 晚上 七 点 半7:30 yesterday evening
- 今天 下午 四 点 半4:30 p.m. this afternoon.
As a beginner, that should be all you need. If you've mastered all of these structures and want to get a little more advanced, see structure of times (advanced).
