{"id":2702,"date":"2018-10-16T21:00:24","date_gmt":"2018-10-16T21:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/?p=2702"},"modified":"2019-09-09T07:07:46","modified_gmt":"2019-09-09T07:07:46","slug":"express-chinese-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/zh-hans\/express-chinese-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Lesson 10. How to Express Time in Chinese"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

In the previous lesson, you have learned about the number in Chinese<\/a>. Today, let\u2019s learn how to tell the time in Chinese!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Important Time-Related Term<\/strong><\/h6>\n

Here are some important time-related terms you need to be familiar beforehand.<\/p>\n

\"Chinese<\/a>
Time Related Terms in Chinese. Click to enlarge the image.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Telling the Time<\/strong><\/h6>\n

The complete time format in Chinese is:<\/p>\n

number + \u9ede + number + \u5206 + number +\u00a0\u79d2<\/p>\n

number + \u70b9 + number + \u5206 + number +\u00a0\u79d2<\/p>\n

number + di\u01cen + number + f\u0113n + number +\u00a0mi\u01ceo<\/p>\n

number + o\u2019clock + number + minutes + number + seconds<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The following are the guidelines for the pronunciation. Notice the pattern \u2013 they are easy to remember!<\/p>\n

\"Chinese<\/a>
Hours in Chinese. Click to enlarge the image.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Chinese<\/a>
Minutes in Chinese. Click to enlarge the image.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Chinese<\/a>
Seconds in Chinese. Click to enlarge the image.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Of course, you can omit the part you do not need in telling the time. Like in normal asking-telling time conversation, we will only use the o\u2019clock and minutes. On the other hand, under some circumstances that require the precise time, you do have to include the seconds. Examples:<\/p>\n

\u5169\u9ede\u3002<\/p>\n

\u4e24\u70b9\u3002<\/p>\n

Li\u01ceng di\u01cen.<\/p>\n

Two o\u2019clock.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u5341\u4e8c\u9ede\u3002<\/p>\n

\u5341\u4e8c\u70b9\u3002<\/p>\n

Sh\u00ed’\u00e8r di\u01cen.<\/p>\n

Twelve o\u2019clock.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u4e94\u9ede\u4e8c\u5341(\u5206)\u3002<\/p>\n

\u4e94\u70b9\u4e8c\u5341(\u5206)\u3002<\/p>\n

W\u01d4 di\u01cen \u00e8rsh\u00ed (f\u0113n).<\/p>\n

05:20.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u516b\u9ede\u56db\u5341\u4e94(\u5206)\u3002<\/p>\n

\u516b\u70b9\u56db\u5341\u4e94(\u5206)\u3002<\/p>\n

B\u0101 di\u01cen s\u00ec sh\u00ed w\u01d4 (f\u0113n).<\/p>\n

08:45.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u4e09\u9ede\u4e03\u5206\u5341\u79d2\u3002<\/p>\n

\u4e09\u70b9\u4e03\u5206\u5341\u79d2\u3002<\/p>\n

S\u0101n di\u01cen q\u012b f\u0113n sh\u00ed mi\u01ceo.<\/p>\n

03:07:10.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u4e5d\u9ede\u4e09\u5341\u516d\u5206\u4e94\u5341\u4e5d\u79d2\u3002<\/p>\n

\u4e5d\u70b9\u4e09\u5341\u516d\u5206\u4e94\u5341\u4e5d\u79d2\u3002<\/p>\n

Ji\u01d4 di\u01cen s\u0101nsh\u00edli\u00f9 f\u0113n w\u01d4sh\u00edji\u01d4 mi\u01ceo.<\/p>\n

09:36:59.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Have you noticed that we use \u5169 [\u4e24] (li\u01ceng) instead of \u4e8c (\u00e8r) to express time?<\/p>\n

You can leave out the word for the minute: \u5206 (f\u0113n) when speaking.<\/p>\n

Sometimes, you might hear the word \u9418 [\u79cd] (zh\u014dng) behind the o\u2019clock, minutes, or seconds. It is completely normal though!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Quarter and Half<\/strong><\/h6>\n

In fact, Chinese tend to use digital time format (e.g.<\/em> 08:55 is pronounced as eight fifty-five instead of five to nine). There is a word for quarter: \u523b (k\u00e8), but it can be only use for \u2018quarter past\u2019. The term \u2018quarter to\u2019 as in English is not available here. Don\u2019t worry, we still use the half: \u534a (b\u00e0n) to indicate 30 minutes! Examples:<\/p>\n

\u4e03\u9ede\u4e00\u523b\u3002<\/p>\n

\u4e03\u70b9\u4e00\u523b\u3002<\/p>\n

Q\u012b di\u01cen y\u012b k\u00e8.<\/p>\n

A quarter past seven (07:15).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u4e00\u9ede\u534a\u3002<\/p>\n

\u4e00\u70b9\u534a\u3002<\/p>\n

Y\u012bdi\u01cen b\u00e0n.<\/p>\n

Half past one (01:30).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Less\/To<\/strong><\/h6>\n

\u5dee (ch\u00e0) is similar to English less\/to, which is used to indicate \u2018several minutes\u2019 to reach the next hour. The opposite of less, \u2018past\u2019 is not available in Chinese time dictionary too. Thus:<\/p>\n

\u5dee\u4e94\u5206\u5341\u9ede\u3002<\/p>\n

\u5dee\u4e94\u5206\u5341\u70b9\u3002<\/p>\n

Ch\u00e0 w\u01d4 f\u0113n sh\u00ed di\u01cen.<\/p>\n

Five to ten (09:55).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u5dee\u4e00\u5206\u516d\u9ede\u3002<\/p>\n

\u5dee\u4e00\u5206\u516d\u70b9\u3002<\/p>\n

Ch\u00e0 y\u012b f\u0113n li\u00f9 di\u01cen.<\/p>\n

One to six (05:59).<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sharp<\/strong><\/h6>\n

\u6574 (zh\u011bng) is used to express \u2018the exact time\u2019 in Chinese. Therefore:<\/p>\n

\u56db\u9ede\u6574\u3002<\/p>\n

\u56db\u70b9\u6574\u3002<\/p>\n

S\u00ec di\u01cen zh\u011bng.<\/p>\n

Four o\u2019clock sharp (exactly 4:00).<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

No a.m. and p.m. in Chinese Time!<\/strong><\/h6>\n

You read it correctly. There is no specific term for indicating a.m. and p.m. in Chinese. In order to distinguish which time of the day, we use time-frame of the day: \u65e9\u4e0a (z\u01ceo shang), \u4e2d\u5348 (zh\u014dng w\u01d4), \u4e0b\u5348 (xi\u00e0 w\u01d4), \u665a\u4e0a (w\u01cen sh\u00e0ng), \u534a\u591c (b\u00e0n y\u00e8), \u51cc\u6668 (l\u00edng ch\u00e9n). Thus:<\/p>\n

\u65e9\u4e0a\u516b\u9ede\u3002<\/p>\n

\u65e9\u4e0a\u516b\u70b9\u3002<\/p>\n

Z\u01ceo shang b\u0101 di\u01cen.<\/p>\n

8 a.m.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u4e2d\u5348\u5341\u4e8c\u9ede\u3002<\/p>\n

\u4e2d\u5348\u5341\u4e8c\u70b9\u3002<\/p>\n

Zh\u014dng w\u01d4 sh\u00ed’\u00e8r di\u01cen.<\/p>\n

12 p.m.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u4e0b\u5348\u5169\u9ede\u3002<\/p>\n

\u4e0b\u5348\u4e24\u70b9\u3002<\/p>\n

Xi\u00e0 w\u01d4 li\u01ceng di\u01cen.<\/p>\n

2 p.m.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u665a\u4e0a\u516d\u9ede\u3002<\/p>\n

\u665a\u4e0a\u516d\u70b9\u3002<\/p>\n

W\u01cen sh\u00e0ng li\u00f9 di\u01cen.<\/p>\n

6 p.m.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u534a\u591c\u5341\u4e8c\u9ede\u3002<\/p>\n

\u534a\u591c\u5341\u4e8c\u70b9\u3002<\/p>\n

B\u00e0n y\u00e8 sh\u00ed’\u00e8r di\u01cen.<\/p>\n

12 a.m.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u51cc\u6668\u4e00\u9ede\u3002<\/p>\n

\u51cc\u6668\u4e00\u70b9\u3002<\/p>\n

L\u00edng ch\u00e9n y\u012bdi\u01cen.<\/p>\n

1 a.m.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Asking the Time<\/strong><\/h6>\n

There are countless ways to ask time in Chinese. The most common one is:<\/p>\n

\u73fe\u5728\u5e7e\u9ede\uff1f<\/p>\n

\u73b0\u5728\u51e0\u70b9\uff1f<\/p>\n

Xi\u00e0nz\u00e0i j\u012bdi\u01cen?<\/p>\n

What time is it now?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When you are talking to someone you are close to, you can use:<\/p>\n

\u5e7e\u9ede\u4e86\uff1f<\/p>\n

\u51e0\u70b9\u4e86\uff1f<\/p>\n

J\u012bdi\u01cen le?<\/p>\n

What time is it?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

QUIZ<\/h6>\n

Next time when someone asks you the time in Chinese, try to answer the time in Chinese as well! Let\u2019s practice now!<\/p>\n

\u6628\u5929\u4f60\u5e7e\u9ede\u56de\u5bb6\uff1f<\/p>\n

\u6628\u5929\u4f60\u51e0\u70b9\u56de\u5bb6\uff1f<\/p>\n

Zu\u00f3 ti\u0101n n\u01d0 j\u01d0 di\u01cen hu\u00ed ji\u0101?<\/p>\n

What time did you go home yesterday?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u660e\u5929\u6211\u5011\u5e7e\u9ede\u51fa\u767c\uff1f<\/p>\n

\u660e\u5929\u6211\u4eec\u51e0\u70b9\u51fa\u53d1\uff1f<\/p>\n

M\u00edng ti\u0101n w\u01d2men j\u01d0 di\u01cen ch\u016b f\u0101?<\/p>\n

What time will we leave tomorrow?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u4f60\u6bcf\u5929\u5e7e\u9ede\u7761\u89ba\uff1f<\/p>\n

\u4f60\u6bcf\u5929\u51e0\u70b9\u7761\u89c9\uff1f<\/p>\n

N\u01d0 m\u011bi ti\u0101n j\u01d0 di\u01cen shu\u00ec ji\u00e0o?<\/p>\n

What time do you go to sleep every day?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Let\u2019s learn Chinese today. Join us at LingoCards<\/a>!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the previous lesson, y…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":2703,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[116,189],"class_list":["post-2702","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chinese","tag-numbers","tag-time","pmpro-has-access"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/zh-hans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2702","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/zh-hans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/zh-hans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/zh-hans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/zh-hans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2702"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/zh-hans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2702\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3962,"href":"https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/zh-hans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2702\/revisions\/3962"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/zh-hans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2703"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/zh-hans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2702"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/zh-hans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2702"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/zh-hans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2702"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}