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

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Also, you can omit 分 in this structure when X 分>10 分. For example: 2:15 is 两点十五.
 
Also, you can omit 分 in this structure when X 分>10 分. For example: 2:15 is 两点十五.
  
==== ====
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==== Zero "O"====
  
 
===== Structure =====
 
===== Structure =====
  
当分钟数不是5,10,15这样的数字时,我们一般会在“点”后面加“零”,比如2:07 就是 “两点零七分”。需要注意的是,人们经常喜欢省略“两点零七分”后面的“分”,直接说“两点零七”。但如果是5,10,15这样的数字,你加“零”也不是错的。
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In Chinese, when the minute is under 10, the word 零 is often used after 点. For example, 2:07 would be said as “两点零七分。” Note that when speaking, it is common for most Chinese people take out the “分” at the end of the time.
  
 
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Revision as of 09:04, 18 September 2014

Time in Chinese also goes "big to small."

On the hour

The time of day in Chinese is formed with a 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.

Structure

x 点

Examples

  • 1 o'clock
  • 2 o'clock
  • 3 o'clock
  • 10 o'clock
  • 中午 十二 12 o'clock noon
  • 上午 八 8 o'clock a.m.
  • 明天 晚上 七 7 o'clock p.m. tomorrow
  • 9 月 9 号 早上 六 September 9th, 6 o'clock a.m.
  • 每 天 下午 一 Every day at 1 o'clock p.m.
  • 星期三 上午 九 Wednesday at 9 o'clock a.m.

Note that two o'clock is 两点, not 二点.

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 一刻 (yīkè).

Half hours

Structure

x 点 半

Examples

  • 点 半5:30
  • 下午 两 点 半2:30 p.m.
  • 9 月 9 号 早上 六 点 半September 9th, 6:30 a.m.
  • 每 天 下午 一 点 半Every day at 1:30 p.m.
  • 星期 三 上午 九 点 半Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.
  • 上午 十 点 半10:30 a.m.
  • 明天 三 点 半3:30 tomorrow
  • 昨天 七 点 半7:30 yesterday
  • 星期 五 晚上 十 点 半Friday evening at 10:30 p.m.
  • 今天 下午 四 点 半4:30 p.m. this afternoon.

quarter hours

Structure

x 点 x 刻

Examples

  • 7:15
  • 9:15
  • 十 一 11:15
  • 十 二 12:15
  • 5:15
  • 2:45
  • 1:45
  • 4:45
  • 10:45
  • 6:45

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 added after 点 in the same way as half and quarter hours.

整数分钟

Structure

x 点 x 分

Examples
  • 四 十 1:40
  • 2:10
  • 二 十 五 8:25
  • 三 十 5:30
  • 二 十 3:20
  • 十 五 7:15
  • 9:05
  • 四 十 五 2:45
  • 十 五 1:15
  • 五 十 2:50

Also, you can omit 分 in this structure when X 分>10 分. For example: 2:15 is 两点十五.

Zero "O"

Structure

In Chinese, when the minute is under 10, the word 零 is often used after 点. For example, 2:07 would be said as “两点零七分。” Note that when speaking, it is common for most Chinese people take out the “分” at the end of the time.

x 点 零 x 分

Examples
  • 1:04
  • 2:09
  • 8:05
  • 5:03
  • 3:02
  • 7:03
  • 1:04
  • 2:09
  • 8:05
  • 5:03
  • 3:02
  • 7:03

To the hour

Structure

Minutes to the hour use this structure:

差 + minutes + 分 + hour + 点

Examples

  • 十 分 两 ten minutes til 2 o'clock
  • 五 分 三 three minutes til 3 o'clock
  • 二 十 分 十二 twenty minutes til 12 o'clock
  • 两 分 五 two minutes til 5 o'clock
  • 八 分 八 eight minutes til 8 o'clock
  • 二 十 分 十二 twenty minutes til 12 o'clock
  • 十 五 分 十 fifteen minutes til 10 o'clock
  • 一刻 五 fifteen minutes til 5 o'clock
  • 五 分 八 five minutes til 8:30
  • 十 分 十 ten minutes til 10:30

See also

Sources and further reading

Books