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| | {{Grammar Box}} | | {{Grammar Box}} |
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| − | Time in Chinese, just like in English, is expressed by stating the hour first 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 (shíèr)) 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) (a.m.) or 下午 (xiàwŭ) (p.m.) if necessary. | + | 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 class="jiegou"> | | <div class="jiegou"> |
| | | | |
| − | x 点 | + | (Date and/or time of day +) x 点 |
| | | | |
| | </div> | | </div> |
| | + | |
| | + | Sometimes people use the longer 点钟 (diǎnzhōng) instead of just 点 (diǎn), but you're fine using the short form. |
| | | | |
| | === Examples === | | === Examples === |
| | | | |
| − | <div class="liju">
| + | 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. |
| − | | |
| − | * 一 <em>点</em><span class="pinyin">Yī <em>diǎn </em></span><span class="trans">1 o'clock</span>
| |
| − | * 两 <em>点</em><span class="pinyin">Liǎng <em>diǎn </em></span><span class="trans">2 o'clock</span>
| |
| − | * 三 <em>点</em><span class="pinyin">Sān <em>diǎn </em></span><span class="trans">3 o'clock</span>
| |
| − | * 十 <em>点</em><span class="pinyin">Shí <em>diǎn </em></span><span class="trans">10 o'clock</span>
| |
| − | * 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>
| |
| − | * 上午 八 <em>点</em><span class="pinyin">Shàngwǔ bā <em>diǎn </em></span><span class="trans">8 o'clock a.m.</span>
| |
| − | * 明天 晚上 七 <em>点</em><span class="pinyin">Míngtiān wǎnshàng qī <em>diǎn </em></span><span class="trans">7 o'clock p.m. tomorrow</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>
| |
| − | * 每 天 下午 一 <em>点</em><span class="pinyin">Měitiān xiàwǔ yī <em>diǎn </em></span><span class="trans">Every day at 1 o'clock p.m.</span>
| |
| − | * 星期三 上午 九 <em>点</em><span class="pinyin">Xīngqísān shàngwǔ jiǔ <em>diǎn </em></span><span class="trans">Wednesday at 9 o'clock a.m.</span>
| |
| − | </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 [["Er" and "liang"]].
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Half hours and quarter hours ==
| |
| − | | |
| − | Half and quarter hours are added after 点 (diăn). A half hour is indicated with 半 (bàn), and a quarter with 刻 (kè).
| |
| − | | |
| − | === Half hours ===
| |
| − | | |
| − | ==== Structure ====
| |
| − | | |
| − | <div class="jiegou">
| |
| − | | |
| − | x 点 半
| |
| − | | |
| − | </div>
| |
| − | | |
| − | ==== Examples ====
| |
| | | | |
| | <div class="liju"> | | <div class="liju"> |
| | | | |
| − | * 五 <em>点 半</em><span class="pinyin">Wǔ <em>diǎn bàn </em></span><span class="trans">5:30</span> | + | * 九 <em>点</em><span class="pinyin">jiǔ <em>diǎn</em></span><span class="trans">9 o'clock</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> | + | * 上午 七 <em>点</em><span class="pinyin">shàngwǔ qī <em>diǎn</em></span><span class="trans">7 o'clock a.m.</span> |
| − | * 9 月 9 号 早上 六 <em>点 半</em><span class="pinyin">Jiǔ yuè jiǔ hào zǎoshang liù <em>diǎn bàn </em></span><span class="trans">September 9th, 6:30 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> |
| − | * 每 天 下午 一 <em>点 半</em><span class="pinyin">Měitiān xiàwǔ yī <em>diǎn bàn </em></span><span class="trans">Every day at 1:30 p.m.</span> | + | * 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> |
| − | * 星期 三 上午 九 <em>点 半</em><span class="pinyin">Xīngqísān shàngwǔ jiǔ <em>diǎn bàn </em></span><span class="trans">Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.</span> | + | * 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> |
| − | * 上午 十 <em>点 半</em><span class="pinyin">Shàngwǔ shí <em>diǎn bàn </em></span><span class="trans">10:30 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> |
| − | * 明天 三 <em>点 半</em><span class="pinyin">Míngtiān sān <em>diǎn bàn </em></span><span class="trans">3:30 tomorrow</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> |
| − | * 昨天 七 <em>点 半</em><span class="pinyin">Zuótiān qī <em>diǎn bàn </em></span><span class="trans">7:30 yesterday</span>
| |
| − | * 星期 五 晚上 十 <em>点 半</em><span class="pinyin">Xīngqíwǔ wǎnshàng shí <em>diǎn bàn </em></span><span class="trans">Friday evening at 10:30 p.m.</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> | |
| − | | |
| | </div> | | </div> |
| | | | |
| − | === Quarter hours ===
| + | 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"]]). |
| − | In Chinese, quarter hours are only expressed on the 1st quarter x:15, and the third quarter x:45. We use the word 刻 (Kè) to express quarter.
| |
| − | ==== Structure ====
| |
| | | | |
| − | <div class="jiegou">
| + | "''Twelve'' o'clock," however, is still 十二点 (shí'èr diǎn). |
| | | | |
| − | x 点 x 刻
| + | == Half Hours == |
| | | | |
| − | </div>
| + | Half hours are added after 点 (diăn) and are indicated with 半 (bàn). |
| | | | |
| − | ==== Examples ====
| + | === Structure === |
| − | | |
| − | <div class="liju">
| |
| − | | |
| − | * 七 <em>点</em> 一 <em>刻</em><span class="pinyin">Qī <em>diǎn </em> yī <em>kè </em></span> <span class="trans">7:15</span>
| |
| − | * 九 <em>点</em> 一 <em>刻</em><span class="pinyin">Jiǔ <em>diǎn </em> yī <em>kè </em></span> <span class="trans">9:15</span>
| |
| − | * 十 一 <em>点</em> 一 <em>刻</em><span class="pinyin">Shíyī <em>diǎn </em> yī <em>kè </em></span> <span class="trans">11:15</span>
| |
| − | * 十 二 <em>点</em> 一 <em>刻</em><span class="pinyin">Shí'èr <em>diǎn </em> yī <em>kè </em></span> <span class="trans">12:15</span>
| |
| − | * 五 <em>点</em> 一 <em>刻</em><span class="pinyin">Wǔ <em>diǎn </em> yī <em>kè </em></span> <span class="trans">5:15</span>
| |
| − | * 两 <em>点</em> 三 <em>刻</em><span class="pinyin">Liǎng <em>diǎn </em> sān <em>kè </em></span> <span class="trans">2:45</span>
| |
| − | * 一 <em>点</em> 三 <em>刻</em><span class="pinyin">Yī <em>diǎn </em> sān <em>kè </em></span> <span class="trans">1:45</span>
| |
| − | * 四 <em>点</em> 三 <em>刻</em><span class="pinyin">Sì <em>diǎn </em> sān <em>kè </em></span> <span class="trans">4:45</span>
| |
| − | * 十 <em>点</em> 三 <em>刻</em><span class="pinyin">Shí <em>diǎn </em> sān <em>kè </em></span> <span class="trans">10:45</span>
| |
| − | * 六 <em>点</em> 三 <em>刻</em><span class="pinyin">Liù <em>diǎn </em> sān <em>kè </em></span> <span class="trans">6:45</span>
| |
| − | | |
| − | </div>
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Minutes ==
| |
| − | | |
| − | Minutes are marked with 分 (fēn) (short for 分钟 (fēn zhōng)). The way to include them in the time depends on whether they're minutes ''past'' or ''to'' the hour.
| |
| − | | |
| − | === Past the hour ===
| |
| − | | |
| − | Minutes ''past'' the hour are expressed after 点 in the same way as half and quarter hours.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ==== When the minute is greater than 10 ====
| |
| − | | |
| − | ===== Structure =====
| |
| | | | |
| | <div class="jiegou"> | | <div class="jiegou"> |
| | | | |
| − | x 点 x 分 | + | x 点 + 半 |
| | | | |
| | </div> | | </div> |
| | | | |
| − | =====Examples =====
| + | === Examples === |
| − | | |
| − | <div class="liju">
| |
| − | | |
| − | * 一 <em>点</em> 四 十 <em>分</em><span class="pinyin">Yī <em>diǎn </em> sìshí <em>fēn </em></span><span class="trans">1:40</span>
| |
| − | * 两 <em>点</em> 十 <em>分</em> <span class="pinyin">Liǎng <em>diǎn </em> shí <em>fēn </em></span><span class="trans">2:10</span>
| |
| − | * 八 <em>点</em> 二 十 五 <em>分</em><span class="pinyin">Bā <em>diǎn </em> èrshíwǔ <em>fēn </em></span><span class="trans">8:25</span>
| |
| − | * 五 <em>点</em> 三 十 <em>分</em> <span class="pinyin">Wǔ <em>diǎn </em> sānshí <em>fēn </em></span><span class="trans">5:30</span>
| |
| − | * 三 <em>点</em> 二 十 <em>分</em> <span class="pinyin">Sān <em>diǎn </em> èrshí <em>fēn </em></span><span class="trans">3:20</span>
| |
| − | * 七 <em>点</em> 十 五 <em>分</em> <span class="pinyin">Qī <em>diǎn </em> shíwǔ <em>fēn </em></span><span class="trans">7:15</span>
| |
| − | * 九 <em>点</em> 五 <em>分</em> <span class="pinyin">Jiǔ <em>diǎn </em> wǔ <em>fēn </em></span><span class="trans">9:05</span>
| |
| − | * 两 <em>点</em> 四 十 五 <em>分</em><span class="pinyin">Liǎng <em>diǎn </em> sìshíwǔ <em>fēn </em></span> <span class="trans">2:45</span>
| |
| − | * 一 <em>点</em> 十 五 <em>分</em> <span class="pinyin">Yī <em>diǎn </em> shíwǔ <em>fēn </em></span> <span class="trans">1:15</span>
| |
| − | * 两 <em>点</em> 五 十 <em>分</em><span class="pinyin">Liǎng <em>diǎn </em> wǔshí <em>fēn </em></span><span class="trans">2:50</span>
| |
| − | | |
| − | </div>
| |
| − | | |
| − | ==== When the minute is less than 10====
| |
| − | | |
| − | ===== Structure =====
| |
| − | | |
| − | In Chinese, when the minute is under 10, the word 零 (líng) is often used after 点 （diǎn）. For example, 2:07 would be said as “两点零七分” (Liǎng diǎn líng qī fēn). However, note that when speaking, it is very common for most Chinese people take out the “分” at the end of the time.
| |
| − | | |
| − | <div class="jiegou">
| |
| − | | |
| − | x 点 零 x 分
| |
| − | | |
| − | </div>
| |
| − | | |
| − | ===== Examples =====
| |
| | | | |
| | <div class="liju"> | | <div class="liju"> |
| | | | |
| − | * 一 <em>点</em> <em>零</em> 四 <em>分</em> <span class="pinyin">Yī <em>diǎn </em> <em>líng </em> sì <em>fēn </em></span><span class="trans">1:04</span> | + | * 五 <em>点 半</em><span class="pinyin">wǔ <em>diǎn bàn</em></span><span class="trans">5:30</span> |
| − | * 两 <em>点</em> <em>零</em> 九<em>分</em> <span class="pinyin">Liǎng <em>diǎn </em> <em>líng </em> jiǔ <em>fēn </em></span><span class="trans">2:09</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> |
| − | * 八 <em>点</em> <em>零</em> 五 <em>分</em> <span class="pinyin">Bā <em>diǎn </em> <em>líng </em> wǔ <em>fēn </em></span><span class="trans">8:05</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> |
| − | * 五 <em>点</em> <em>零</em> 三 <em>分</em> <span class="pinyin">Wǔ <em>diǎn </em> <em>líng </em> sān <em>fēn </em></span><span class="trans">5:03</span>
| + | * 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> |
| − | * 三 <em>点</em> <em>零</em> 二 <em>分</em> <span class="pinyin">Sān <em>diǎn </em> <em>líng </em> èr <em>fēn </em></span><span class="trans">3:02</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> |
| − | * 七 <em>点</em> <em>零</em> 三 <em>分</em><span class="pinyin">Qī <em>diǎn </em> <em>líng </em> sān <em>fēn </em></span><span class="trans">7:03</span> | |
| − | * 一 <em>点</em> <em>零</em> 四 <span class="pinyin">Yī <em>diǎn </em> <em>líng </em> sì</span><span class="trans">1:04</span> | |
| − | * 两 <em>点</em> <em>零</em> 九 <span class="pinyin">Liǎng <em>diǎn </em> <em>líng </em> jiǔ</span><span class="trans">2:09</span>
| |
| − | * 八 <em>点</em> <em>零</em> 五 <span class="pinyin">Bā <em>diǎn </em> <em>líng </em> wǔ</span><span class="trans">8:05</span>
| |
| − | * 五 <em>点</em> <em>零</em> 三 <span class="pinyin">Wǔ <em>diǎn </em> <em>líng </em> sān</span><span class="trans">5:03</span>
| |
| − | * 三 <em>点</em> <em>零</em> 二 <span class="pinyin">Sān <em>diǎn </em> <em>líng </em> èr</span><span class="trans">3:02</span>
| |
| − | * 七 <em>点</em> <em>零</em> 三<span class="pinyin">Qī <em>diǎn </em> <em>líng </em> sān</span><span class="trans">7:03</span>
| |
| − | | |
| − | </div>
| |
| − | | |
| − | === To the hour ===
| |
| − | When expressing how many minutes it will be till the next full hour, you put 差 (chā) in front of the time expression.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ==== Structure ====
| |
| − | | |
| − | Minutes ''to'' the hour use this structure:
| |
| − | | |
| − | <div class="jiegou">
| |
| − | | |
| − | 差 + minutes + 分 + hour + 点
| |
| | | | |
| | </div> | | </div> |
| | | | |
| − | ==== Examples ====
| + | 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)]]. |
| | | | |
| − | <div class="liju">
| + | == HSK Notes == |
| | | | |
| − | * <em>差</em> 十 分 两 <em>点</em><span class="pinyin"><Em>chà </em> shífēn liǎng <em>diǎn </em></span><span class="trans">ten minutes til 2 o'clock</span>
| + | Simple times with 点 (diăn) is on HSK1, but the usage above with 半 (bàn) is not. It is not tested until HSK3. |
| − | * <em>差</em> 五 分 三 <em>点</em><span class="pinyin"><Em>chà </em> wǔ fēn sān <em>diǎn </em></span><span class="trans">three minutes til 3 o'clock</span>
| |
| − | * <em>差</em> 二 十 分 十二 <em>点</em><span class="pinyin"><Em>chà </em> èrshí fēn shí'èr <em>diǎn </em></span><span class="trans">twenty minutes til 12 o'clock</span>
| |
| − | * <em>差</em> 两 分 五 <em>点</em><span class="pinyin"><Em>chà </em> liǎng fēn wǔ <em>diǎn </em></span><span class="trans">two minutes til 5 o'clock</span>
| |
| − | * <em>差</em> 八 分 八 <em>点</em><span class="pinyin"><Em>chà </em> bā fēn bā <em>diǎn </em></span><span class="trans">eight minutes til 8 o'clock</span>
| |
| − | * <em>差</em> 二 十 分 十二 <em>点</em><span class="pinyin"><Em>chà </em> èrshí fēn shí'èr <em>diǎn </em></span><span class="trans">twenty minutes til 12 o'clock</span>
| |
| − | * <em>差</em> 十 五 分 十 <em>点</em><span class="pinyin"><Em>chà </em> shíwǔ fēn shí <em>diǎn </em></span><span class="trans">fifteen minutes til 10 o'clock</span>
| |
| − | * <em>差</em> 一刻 五 <em>点</em><span class="pinyin"><Em>chà </em> yīkè wǔ <em>diǎn </em></span><span class="trans">fifteen minutes til 5 o'clock</span>
| |
| − | * <em>差</em> 五 分 八 <em>点</em> 半<span class="pinyin"><Em>chà </em> wǔ fēn bā <em>diǎn </em> bàn</span><span class="trans">five minutes til 8:30</span>
| |
| − | * <em>差</em> 十 分 十 <em>点</em>半<span class="pinyin"><Em>chà </em> shífēn shí <em>diǎn </em>bàn</span><span class="trans">ten minutes til 10:30</span>
| |
| − | | |
| − | </div>
| |
| | | | |
| | ==See also== | | ==See also== |
| | + | *[[Structure of times (advanced)]] |
| | *[[Structure of numbers]] | | *[[Structure of numbers]] |
| | *[[Structure of dates]] | | *[[Structure of dates]] |
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| | === Books === | | === Books === |
| | | | |
| − | * [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 74-5) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
| + | {{Source|HSK Standard Course 1|84}} |
| − | * [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)]] (pp. 160) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561910401/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561910401 →buy]
| + | {{Source|HSK Standard Course 3|59}} |
| − | * [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed)]] (pp. 185) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561926235/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7561926235 →buy]
| + | {{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}} |
| | {{Rel char|点钟}} | | {{Rel char|点钟}} |
| | + | {{Similar|Structure of times (advanced)}} |
| | {{Similar|Structure of numbers}} | | {{Similar|Structure of numbers}} |
| | {{Similar|Structure of dates}} | | {{Similar|Structure of dates}} |
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