Time In Chinese: Learn To Tell Time Like A Pro!

Introduction

Understanding how to talk about time in Chinese is crucial for daily communication, whether you're planning a meeting or scheduling activities. In this guide, we'll cover the basic vocabulary and phrases you need to master telling time in Chinese. We'll provide practical examples and tips to help you become fluent in discussing schedules and durations.

1. Basic Vocabulary: Hours, Minutes, and Seconds

To start, let's learn the essential vocabulary for expressing time: — MLB Playoff Bracket 2024: Schedule, Teams, And More

• 点 (diǎn): O'clock/hour
• 分 (fēn): Minute
• 秒 (miǎo): Second
• 半 (bàn): Half
• 刻 (kè): Quarter (15 minutes)
• 早上 (zǎoshang): Early morning (around 5am - 8am)
• 上午 (shàngwǔ): Morning (around 8am - 12pm)
• 中午 (zhōngwǔ): Noon (12pm)
• 下午 (xiàwǔ): Afternoon (1pm - 6pm)
• 晚上 (wǎnshang): Evening (6pm - 12am)
• 午夜 (wǔyè): Midnight (12am)

Practical Examples:

• 三点 (sān diǎn): 3 o'clock
• 五分 (wǔ fēn): 5 minutes
• 十秒 (shí miǎo): 10 seconds

2. How to Say Specific Times

Now, let's combine these words to form specific times. The structure is generally: Time + 点 (diǎn) + 分 (fēn).

Examples:

• 八点十分 (bā diǎn shí fēn): 8:10
• 九点三十分 (jiǔ diǎn sānshí fēn): 9:30
• 十点四十五分 (shí diǎn sìshíwǔ fēn): 10:45

For times like 9:30, you can also say 九点半 (jiǔ diǎn bàn), which translates to "9 and a half."

Using 刻 (kè) for Quarter Hours

刻 (kè) represents a quarter of an hour (15 minutes).

• 一点一刻 (yī diǎn yī kè): 1:15 (one fifteen)
• 两点三刻 (liǎng diǎn sān kè): 2:45 (two forty-five)

3. AM and PM in Chinese

To specify AM or PM, use the time periods mentioned earlier (早上, 上午, 中午, 下午, 晚上) before the time.

Examples:

• 早上八点 (zǎoshang bā diǎn): 8:00 AM
• 下午三点半 (xiàwǔ sān diǎn bàn): 3:30 PM
• 晚上十点 (wǎnshang shí diǎn): 10:00 PM

Common Time References:

• 今天 (jīntiān): Today
• 明天 (míngtiān): Tomorrow
• 昨天 (zuótiān): Yesterday

4. Asking What Time It Is

To ask what time it is, use the phrase: 现在几点？(xiànzài jǐ diǎn?) which translates to "What time is it now?"

Example Conversation:

• Person A: 现在几点？(xiànzài jǐ diǎn?) What time is it now?
• Person B: 现在下午两点半。(xiànzài xiàwǔ liǎng diǎn bàn.) It's 2:30 PM.

5. Expressing Duration

When talking about duration, you’ll use different structures. Here’s how to express how long something takes: — NFL Overtime: Rules, History, And Strategies

• 小时 (xiǎoshí): Hour
• 分钟 (fēnzhōng): Minute
• 秒钟 (miǎozhōng): Second

Examples:

• 一个小时 (yī gè xiǎoshí): One hour
• 三十分钟 (sānshí fēnzhōng): Thirty minutes
• 五秒钟 (wǔ miǎozhōng): Five seconds

Usage in Sentences:

• 我需要一个小时完成这个任务。(wǒ xūyào yī gè xiǎoshí wánchéng zhège rènwù.) I need one hour to finish this task.
• 会议将持续四十五分钟。(huìyì jiāng chíxù sìshíwǔ fēnzhōng.) The meeting will last 45 minutes.

6. Practical Phrases for Daily Use

Let's look at some practical phrases you can use in daily conversations:

• 什么时候？(shénme shíhòu?): When?
• 几点开始？(jǐ diǎn kāishǐ?): What time does it start?
• 几点结束？(jǐ diǎn jiéshù?): What time does it end?
• 在...点 (zài...diǎn): At...o'clock
• 从...到... (cóng...dào...): From...to...

Example Dialogues:

• Dialogue 1:
  • Person A: 会议什么时候开始？(huìyì shénme shíhòu kāishǐ?) When does the meeting start?
  • Person B: 会议在下午两点开始。(huìyì zài xiàwǔ liǎng diǎn kāishǐ.) The meeting starts at 2 PM.
• Dialogue 2:
  • Person A: 你从几点工作到几点？(nǐ cóng jǐ diǎn gōngzuò dào jǐ diǎn?) What time do you work from/to?
  • Person B: 我从早上九点工作到下午五点。(wǒ cóng zǎoshang jiǔ diǎn gōngzuò dào xiàwǔ wǔ diǎn.) I work from 9 AM to 5 PM.

7. Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Forgetting Time Indicators: Always use 早上, 上午, 下午, or 晚上 to avoid confusion.
• Incorrect Structure: Ensure you follow the correct structure (Time + 点 + 分).
• Misusing Duration: Be clear whether you're stating the time or duration.

Conclusion

Understanding and using time-related vocabulary in Chinese is essential for effective communication. By mastering the basic vocabulary, structures, and practical phrases discussed in this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to discuss schedules and durations fluently. Practice these phrases regularly to enhance your proficiency and confidence.

FAQ Section

1. How do you say "half-past" in Chinese?

In Chinese, "half-past" is usually expressed as 半 (bàn). For example, 8:30 is 八点半 (bā diǎn bàn), which means "eight and a half."

2. How do you say "a quarter to" in Chinese?

To say "a quarter to," you can use the phrase 差一刻 (chà yī kè). For instance, 2:45 (a quarter to three) can be expressed as 差一刻三点 (chà yī kè sān diǎn). However, it’s more common to say 两点三刻 (liǎng diǎn sān kè), meaning "two and three quarters."

3. How do you specify AM and PM in Chinese?

To specify AM, use 早上 (zǎoshang) for early morning (5am - 8am) and 上午 (shàngwǔ) for morning (8am - 12pm). For PM, use 下午 (xiàwǔ) for afternoon (1pm - 6pm) and 晚上 (wǎnshang) for evening (6pm - 12am). For example, 9 AM is 上午九点 (shàngwǔ jiǔ diǎn), and 9 PM is 晚上九点 (wǎnshang jiǔ diǎn). — How To Get World Series Game 7 Tickets

4. What is the difference between 小时 and 钟头?

小时 (xiǎoshí) and 钟头 (zhōngtóu) both mean "hour." They are often used interchangeably, but 小时 (xiǎoshí) is more formal and commonly used in written language, while 钟头 (zhōngtóu) is more colloquial.

5. How do you ask how long something will take in Chinese?

To ask how long something will take, you can use the phrase 多久 (duōjiǔ). For example, 这个会议要开多久？(zhège huìyì yào kāi duōjiǔ?) means "How long will this meeting take?"

6. How do you say "midnight" in Chinese?

"Midnight" in Chinese is 午夜 (wǔyè). You can say 午夜十二点 (wǔyè shí'èr diǎn) to specifically refer to 12 AM.

7. Can you give me some examples of common phrases to use when scheduling a meeting?

Here are some common phrases for scheduling a meeting:

• 什么时候有空？(shénme shíhòu yǒu kòng?): When are you available?
• 我们可以约个时间。(wǒmen kěyǐ yuē gè shíjiān.): We can schedule a time.
• 星期几可以？(xīngqí jǐ kěyǐ?): Which day of the week works for you?
• 下星期怎么样？(xià xīngqí zěnme yàng?): How about next week?
• 我们约在...点。(wǒmen yuē zài...diǎn.): Let's meet at...o'clock.

Citations:

• The Chinese Language Institute
• Purple Culture
• Mandarın Corner