Beginner course – Lesson 9 of 15
Telling the Time in Mandarin
Telling the time in Mandarin uses the numbers you already know, plus a few short words for hours, minutes and parts of the day.
Hours and minutes
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 现在几点？ | xiànzài jǐ diǎn? | What time is it now? |
| 一点 | yì diǎn | 1 o'clock |
| 两点 | liǎng diǎn | 2 o'clock |
| 三点 | sān diǎn | 3 o'clock |
| 三点十分 | sān diǎn shí fēn | 3:10 |
| 三点一刻 | sān diǎn yí kè | Quarter past three |
| 三点半 | sān diǎn bàn | Half past three |
| 差一刻四点 | chà yí kè sì diǎn | Quarter to four |
现在几点？
xiànzài jǐ diǎn?
What time is it now?
一点
yì diǎn
1 o'clock
两点
liǎng diǎn
2 o'clock
三点
sān diǎn
3 o'clock
三点十分
sān diǎn shí fēn
3:10
三点一刻
sān diǎn yí kè
Quarter past three
三点半
sān diǎn bàn
Half past three
差一刻四点
chà yí kè sì diǎn
Quarter to four
Parts of the day
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 早上 | zǎoshang | Morning |
| 中午 | zhōngwǔ | Midday |
| 下午 | xiàwǔ | Afternoon |
| 晚上 | wǎnshang | Evening |
| 下午三点 | xiàwǔ sān diǎn | 3pm |
| 晚上八点 | wǎnshang bā diǎn | 8pm |
早上
zǎoshang
Morning
中午
zhōngwǔ
Midday
下午
xiàwǔ
Afternoon
晚上
wǎnshang
Evening
下午三点
xiàwǔ sān diǎn
3pm
晚上八点
wǎnshang bā diǎn
8pm
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