Difference between revisions of "Structure of times (basic)"
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| − | Time in Chinese, just like in English, is expressed by stating the hour first, and then the minute. | + | Time in Chinese, just like in English, is expressed by stating the hour first, and then the minute (big to small). |
== On the Hour == | == On the Hour == | ||
| − | The time of day in Chinese is formed with a [[Structure of numbers|number]] 1 to 12 (一 (yī) to 十二 (shí | + | The time of day in Chinese is formed with a [[Structure of numbers|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 === | === Structure === | ||
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</div> | </div> | ||
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| + | Sometimes people use the longer 点钟 (diǎnzhōng) instead of just 点 (diǎn), but you're fine using the short form. | ||
=== 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"> | ||
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* 上午 七 <em>点</em><span class="pinyin">shàngwǔ qī <em>diǎn</em></span><span class="trans">7 o'clock a.m.</span> | * 上午 七 <em>点</em><span class="pinyin">shàngwǔ qī <em>diǎn</em></span><span class="trans">7 o'clock a.m.</span> | ||
* 下午 四 <em>点</em><span class="pinyin">xiàwǔ sì <em>diǎn</em></span><span class="trans">4 o'clock p.m.</span> | * 下午 四 <em>点</em><span class="pinyin">xiàwǔ sì <em>diǎn</em></span><span class="trans">4 o'clock p.m.</span> | ||
| − | * 中午 十二 <em>点</em><span class="pinyin">zhōngwǔ shí | + | * 中午 十二 <em>点</em><span class="pinyin">zhōngwǔ shí'èr <em>diǎn</em></span><span class="trans"> 12 o'clock noon</span> |
| − | * 明天 晚上 七 <em>点</em><span class="pinyin">míngtiān | + | * 明天 晚上 七 <em>点</em><span class="pinyin">míngtiān wǎnshang qī <em>diǎn</em></span><span class="trans">7 o'clock p.m. tomorrow evening</span> |
* 9 月 9 号 早上 六 <em>点</em><span class="pinyin">jiǔ yuè jiǔ hào zǎoshang liù <em>diǎn</em></span><span class="trans">September 9th, 6 o'clock a.m.</span> | * 9 月 9 号 早上 六 <em>点</em><span class="pinyin">jiǔ yuè jiǔ hào zǎoshang liù <em>diǎn</em></span><span class="trans">September 9th, 6 o'clock a.m.</span> | ||
* 星期三 上午 九 <em>点</em><span class="pinyin">Xīngqīsān shàngwǔ jiǔ <em>diǎn</em></span><span class="trans">Wednesday at 9 o'clock a.m.</span> | * 星期三 上午 九 <em>点</em><span class="pinyin">Xīngqīsān shàngwǔ jiǔ <em>diǎn</em></span><span class="trans">Wednesday at 9 o'clock a.m.</span> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | 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 [[" | + | 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 == | ||
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* 下午 两 <em>点 半</em><span class="pinyin">xiàwǔ liǎng <em>diǎn bàn</em></span><span class="trans">2:30 p.m.</span> | * 下午 两 <em>点 半</em><span class="pinyin">xiàwǔ liǎng <em>diǎn bàn</em></span><span class="trans">2:30 p.m.</span> | ||
* 星期天 上午 十 <em>点 半</em><span class="pinyin">Xīngqītiān shàngwǔ shí <em>diǎn bàn</em></span><span class="trans"> Sunday at 10:30 a.m.</span> | * 星期天 上午 十 <em>点 半</em><span class="pinyin">Xīngqītiān shàngwǔ shí <em>diǎn bàn</em></span><span class="trans"> Sunday at 10:30 a.m.</span> | ||
| − | * 昨天 晚上 七 <em>点 半</em><span class="pinyin">zuótiān | + | * 昨天 晚上 七 <em>点 半</em><span class="pinyin">zuótiān wǎnshang qī <em>diǎn bàn</em></span><span class="trans">7:30 yesterday evening</span> |
* 今天 下午 四 <em>点 半</em><span class="pinyin">jīntiān xiàwǔ sì <em>diǎn bàn</em></span><span class="trans">4:30 p.m. this afternoon.</span> | * 今天 下午 四 <em>点 半</em><span class="pinyin">jīntiān xiàwǔ sì <em>diǎn bàn</em></span><span class="trans">4:30 p.m. this afternoon.</span> | ||
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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)]]. | 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)]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == HSK Notes == | ||
| + | |||
| + | Simple times with 点 (diăn) is on HSK1, but the usage above with 半 (bàn) is not. It is not tested until HSK3. | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| Line 68: | Line 76: | ||
=== Books === | === Books === | ||
| − | + | {{Source|HSK Standard Course 1|84}} | |
| − | + | {{Source|HSK Standard Course 3|59}} | |
| − | + | {{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|74-5}} | |
| + | {{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)|160}} | ||
| + | {{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed)|185}} | ||
[[Category:A1 grammar points]] | [[Category:A1 grammar points]] | ||
| + | {{HSK|HSK1}}{{2021-HSK|HSK1}} | ||
| + | {{HSK|HSK3}} | ||
{{Used for|Expressing time and date}} | {{Used for|Expressing time and date}} | ||
{{Basic Grammar|点|A1|Number + 点(钟)|现在 <em>十一点</em> 。|grammar point|ASGN6BBU}} | {{Basic Grammar|点|A1|Number + 点(钟)|现在 <em>十一点</em> 。|grammar point|ASGN6BBU}} | ||
Latest revision as of 09:22, 20 April 2021
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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).
HSK Notes
Simple times with 点 (diăn) is on HSK1, but the usage above with 半 (bàn) is not. It is not tested until HSK3.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- HSK Standard Course 1 (pp. 84) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- HSK Standard Course 3 (pp. 59) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 74-5) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1) (pp. 160) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed) (pp. 185) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
