Difference between revisions of "Structure of times (advanced)"

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If you already know [[Structure of times (basic)|the basics of how to tell time in Chinese]], you may want to get a little more specific or sophisticated, using words like 分 (fēn) and 刻 (kè).
 
If you already know [[Structure of times (basic)|the basics of how to tell time in Chinese]], you may want to get a little more specific or sophisticated, using words like 分 (fēn) and 刻 (kè).
  
== Minutes past the hour ==
+
== Minutes Past the Hour ==
  
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.
+
Minutes are marked with 分 (fēn) (short for 分钟 (fēnzhōng)). The way to include them in the time depends on whether they're minutes ''past'' or ''to'' the hour.
  
 
Minutes ''past'' the hour are expressed after 点 (diǎn) in the same way as half and quarter hours.  
 
Minutes ''past'' the hour are expressed after 点 (diǎn) in the same way as half and quarter hours.  
  
== When the minute is greater than 10 ==
+
== Minutes Less Than 10 ==
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== 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 (fēn)” at the end of the time.
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
x 点 y 分
+
x 点 y 分
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
===Examples ===
+
=== Examples ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* <em>点</em> 四 十 <em>分</em><span class="pinyin"><em>diǎn</em> sìshí <em>fēn</em></span><span class="trans">1:40</span>
+
* <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>
* <em>点</em> <em>分</em> <span class="pinyin">liǎng <em>diǎn</em> shí <em>fēn</em></span><span class="trans">2:10</span>
+
* <em>点</em> <em>零</em> 八 <em>分</em> <span class="pinyin">sān <em>diǎn</em> <em>líng</em> bā <em>fēn</em></span><span class="trans">3:08</span>
* <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>
+
* <em>点</em> <em>零</em> 三 <em>分</em> <span class="pinyin"><em>diǎn</em> <em>líng</em> sān <em>fēn</em></span><span class="trans">5:03</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>
+
* 七 <em>点</em> <em>零</em> 一 <em>分</em><span class="pinyin">qī <em>diǎn</em> <em>líng</em> yī <em>fēn</em></span><span class="trans">7:01</span>
* <em>点</em> 五 <em>分</em> <span class="pinyin">jiǔ <em>diǎn</em> wǔshí <em>fēn</em></span><span class="trans">9:50</span>
+
* <em>点</em> <em>零</em> 五 <em>分</em> <span class="pinyin"><em>diǎn</em> <em>líng</em> wǔ <em>fēn</em></span><span class="trans">8:05</span>
 +
</div>
  
</div>
+
== Minutes Greater Than 10==
  
== When the minute is less than 10==
+
There's nothing tricky about this, since there's no 零 (líng). Just remember that in casual speech, the 分 (fēn) at the end is sometimes dropped.
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== 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 (fēn)” at the end of the time.
 
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
x 点 y 分
+
x 点 y 分
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
=== Examples ===
+
===Examples ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* <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>
+
* <em>点</em> 四 十 <em>分</em><span class="pinyin"><em>diǎn</em> sìshí <em>fēn</em></span><span class="trans">1:40</span>
* <em>点</em> <em>零</em> 八 <em>分</em> <span class="pinyin">sān <em>diǎn</em> <em>líng</em> bā <em>fēn</em></span><span class="trans">3:08</span>
+
* <em>点</em> <em>分</em> <span class="pinyin">liǎng <em>diǎn</em> shí <em>fēn</em></span><span class="trans">2:10</span>
* <em>点</em> <em>零</em> 三 <em>分</em> <span class="pinyin"><em>diǎn</em> <em>líng</em> sān <em>fēn</em></span><span class="trans">5:03</span>
+
* <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> <em>零</em> 一 <em>分</em><span class="pinyin">qī <em>diǎn</em> <em>líng</em> yī <em>fēn</em></span><span class="trans">7:01</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>
* <em>点</em> <em>零</em> 五 <em>分</em> <span class="pinyin"><em>diǎn</em> <em>líng</em> wǔ <em>fēn</em></span><span class="trans">8:05</span>
+
* <em>点</em> 五 <em>分</em> <span class="pinyin">jiǔ <em>diǎn</em> wǔshí <em>fēn</em></span><span class="trans">9:50</span>
 +
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Quarter hours ==
+
== Quarter Hours ==
  
 
In Chinese, quarter hours are only expressed on the 1st quarter x:15, and the third quarter x:45. Like half hours, they also come after the word 点 (diăn). We use the word 刻 (kè) to express "quarter hour."  
 
In Chinese, quarter hours are only expressed on the 1st quarter x:15, and the third quarter x:45. Like half hours, they also come after the word 点 (diăn). We use the word 刻 (kè) to express "quarter hour."  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 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>
+
* 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>
* 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>
+
* 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>
* 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>
+
* 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>
* 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>
 
* 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>
 
</div>
  
You can totally just use 十五分 (shí-wǔ fēn) for "15 minutes (past)" or 四十五分 (sìshí-wǔ fēn) for "45 minutes (past)" if you're lazy, though. It also works!
+
You can totally just use 十五分 (shíwǔ fēn) for "15 minutes (past)" or 四十五分 (sìshí-wǔ fēn) for "45 minutes (past)" if you're lazy, though. It also works!
  
== To the hour ==
+
== Minutes 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.  
+
When expressing how many minutes it will be till the next full hour, you put 差 (chà) in front of the time expression.  
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
Line 89: Line 89:
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
+
差 + Minutes + 分 + Hour + 点
差 + minutes + 分 + hour + 点
+
</div>
 
+
or
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
Hour + 点 + 差 + Minutes + 分
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
Line 98: Line 100:
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* <em>差</em> 十 分 两 <em>点</em><span class="pinyin"><Em>chā</em> shífēn liǎng <em>diǎn</em></span><span class="trans">ten minutes til 2 o'clock</span>
+
* <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">five minutes til 3 o'clock</span>
* <em>差</em> 五 分 三 <em>点</em><span class="pinyin"><Em>chā</em> wǔ fēn sān <em>diǎn</em></span><span class="trans">three minutes til 3 o'clock</span>
+
* 十二 <em></em> <em></em> 三 分 <span class="pinyin">shí'èr <em>diǎn</em> <Em>chà</em> sān fēn </span><span class="trans">three minutes til 12 o'clock</span>
* <em></em> 一 分 十二 <em></em><span class="pinyin"><Em>chā</em> yī fēn shí'èr <em>diǎn</em></span><span class="trans">one minute til 12 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> 五 分 八 <em>点</em> 半<span class="pinyin"><Em>chā</em> wǔ fēn bā <em>diǎn</em> bàn</span><span class="trans">five minutes til 8:30</span>
+
* <em></em> <em></em> 两 分 <span class="pinyin">shí <em>diǎn</em> <Em>chà</em> liǎng fēn  </span><span class="trans">two minutes til 10:00</span>
* <em></em> 两 分 十 <em></em><span class="pinyin"><Em>chā</em> liǎngfēn shí <em>diǎn</em>bàn</span><span class="trans">two minutes til 10:30</span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
 +
 +
== HSK Notes ==
 +
 +
Only the basic 分 (fēn) usage is tested on HSK1. The others are not tested until HSK3.
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
Line 116: Line 121:
 
=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
 +
{{Source|HSK Standard Course 1|84}}
 +
{{Source|HSK Standard Course 3|59}}
 
* [[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]
 
* [[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]
 
* [[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]
 
* [[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]
Line 121: Line 128:
  
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 +
{{HSK|HSK1}}{{2021-HSK|HSK1}}
 +
{{HSK|HSK3}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing time and date}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing time and date}}
{{Basic Grammar|点|A2|Number 1 + 点(钟) + Number 2 + 分|现在 <em>十一点十八分</em> 。|grammar point|NEEDCODE}}
+
{{Basic Grammar|点|A2|Number 1 + 点(钟) + Number 2 + 分|现在 <em>十一点十八分</em> 。|grammar point|ASGDTO07}}
 
{{Rel char|点钟}}
 
{{Rel char|点钟}}
 
{{Similar|Structure of times (basic)}}   
 
{{Similar|Structure of times (basic)}}   

Latest revision as of 09:24, 20 April 2021

点 (diǎn).jpg

If you already know the basics of how to tell time in Chinese, you may want to get a little more specific or sophisticated, using words like 分 (fēn) and 刻 (kè).

Minutes Past the Hour

Minutes are marked with 分 (fēn) (short for 分钟 (fēnzhōng)). The way to include them in the time depends on whether they're minutes past or to the hour.

Minutes past the hour are expressed after 点 (diǎn) in the same way as half and quarter hours.

Minutes 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 (fēn)” at the end of the time.

x 点 零 y 分

Examples

  • liǎng diǎn líng jiǔ fēn2:09
  • sān diǎn língfēn3:08
  • diǎn líng sān fēn5:03
  • diǎn língfēn7:01
  • diǎn língfēn8:05

Minutes Greater Than 10

There's nothing tricky about this, since there's no 零 (líng). Just remember that in casual speech, the 分 (fēn) at the end is sometimes dropped.

Structure

x 点 y 分

Examples

  • 四 十 diǎn sìshí fēn1:40
  • liǎng diǎn shí fēn2:10
  • 二 十 sān diǎn èrshí fēn3:20
  • 十 五 diǎn shíwǔ fēn7:15
  • 五 十 jiǔ diǎn wǔshí fēn9:50

Quarter Hours

In Chinese, quarter hours are only expressed on the 1st quarter x:15, and the third quarter x:45. Like half hours, they also come after the word 点 (diăn). We use the word 刻 (kè) to express "quarter hour."

Structure

x 点 y 刻

Examples

  • jiǔ diǎn9:15
  • 十 二 shí'èr diǎn12:15
  • liù diǎn sān 6:45

You can totally just use 十五分 (shíwǔ fēn) for "15 minutes (past)" or 四十五分 (sìshí-wǔ fēn) for "45 minutes (past)" if you're lazy, though. It also works!

Minutes to the Hour

When expressing how many minutes it will be till the next full hour, you put 差 (chà) in front of the time expression.

Structure

Minutes to the hour use this structure:

差 + Minutes + 分 + Hour + 点

or

Hour + 点 + 差 + Minutes + 分

Examples

  • 五 分 三 chà wǔ fēn sān diǎnfive minutes til 3 o'clock
  • 十二 三 分 shí'èr diǎn chà sān fēn three minutes til 12 o'clock
  • 五 分 八 chà wǔ fēn bā diǎn bànfive minutes til 8:30
  • 两 分 shí diǎn chà liǎng fēn two minutes til 10:00

HSK Notes

Only the basic 分 (fēn) usage is tested on HSK1. The others are not tested until HSK3.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books