Telling Time
Telling time with 点 (diǎn, o'clock), 半 (bàn, half), and 分 (fēn, minutes)
I can ask and tell the time in Chinese including hours, half hours, and minutes
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
现在几点？
What time is it now?
现在七点半。
It is half past seven now.
上午九点零五分上课。
The class starts at 9:05 AM.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
几点钟 — Telling Time
Chinese time uses 点 (diǎn, o'clock) for hours and 分 (fēn) for minutes. Ask time with 几点 (jǐ diǎn)?
| Time | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| 3:00 | 三点 | sān diǎn |
| 3:30 | 三点半 | sān diǎn bàn |
| 3:15 | 三点十五分 | sān diǎn shíwǔ fēn |
| 3:05 | 三点零五分 | sān diǎn líng wǔ fēn |
| 3:45 | 三点四十五分 | sān diǎn sìshíwǔ fēn |
Key patterns: 半 (bàn) = half past (always :30). For single-digit minutes (01-09), add 零 (líng): 三点零五分 (3:05). Time of day: 上午 (shàngwǔ, AM), 下午 (xiàwǔ, PM).
Common Error Patterns
Omitted 零 for single-digit minutes
For minutes 01-09, add 零: 三点零五分 (3:05), not *三点五分 (ambiguous with 3:50)
Confused 三点半 (3:30) with 'half three' meaning 2:30
Chinese 三点半 = 3:30, not 2:30. 半 always refers to the stated hour, not the next one.
现在几点？
What time is it now?
现在几点 (xiànzài jǐ diǎn)? — 几 (jǐ) asks 'what number' for small numbers. 几点 = 'what time (o'clock)'.
现在七点半。
It is half past seven now.
现在七点半 (xiànzài qī diǎn bàn) — 七点半 = 7:30. WARNING: German 'halb acht' = 7:30, but Chinese counts from the current hour.
上午九点零五分上课。
The class starts at 9:05 AM.
上午九点零五分上课 (shàngwǔ jiǔ diǎn líng wǔ fēn shàngkè) — 零 (líng) is added for single-digit minutes. 上午 = AM/morning.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises