Welcome to our comprehensive guide on how to say the time in Cantonese! Whether you’re planning a visit to Hong Kong, or simply want to expand your language skills, learning how to tell the time in Cantonese is essential. In this guide, we will cover both formal and informal ways of expressing time, along with some useful tips and examples. Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
Formal Ways of Telling Time
When it comes to formal situations, such as business meetings or official events, it’s important to use the appropriate language to express the time. Here are some phrases you can use:
1. Asking for the Time:
If you need to ask someone for the time in a formal setting, you can say:
“請問現在幾點呢？”
(Cing2 man6 jin4 zoi6 gei2 dim2 ni1?)
This phrase politely asks, “May I ask what time it is now?”
2. Providing the Time:
To formally provide the time, you can use the following structure:
“現在是 [hour] 點 [minute] 分。”
(Jin4 zoi6 si6 [hour] dim2 [minute] fan1.)
For example, if it’s 2:30, you would say “現在是兩點三十分” (Jin4 zoi6 si6 loeng5 dim2 saam1 sap6 fan1).
Informal Ways of Telling Time
In casual conversations or among friends, Cantonese speakers often use alternative phrases and shortcuts to express the time. Here are some common informal expressions:
1. Asking for the Time:
When asking for the time in an informal setting, you can simply say:
“而家幾點啊？”
(Ji4 gaa1 gei2 dim2 aa3?)
This phrase translates to “What time is it now?” and is commonly used in casual conversations.
2. Providing the Time:
Informally providing the time can be done using the following structure:
“[hour] 點 [minute] 分。”
([hour] dim2 [minute] fan1.)
For instance, if it’s 2:30, you can say “兩點三十分” (Loeng5 dim2 saam1 sap6 fan1) without the need to mention “現在是” (Jin4 zoi6 si6).
Useful Tips and Examples
Here are some additional tips and examples to help you master telling the time in Cantonese:
1. Counting the Hours:
When counting the hours, Cantonese uses a combination of numbers from one to twelve. Here’s a list to guide you:
- 1 – 一 (jat1)
- 2 – 兩 (loeng5)
- 3 – 三 (saam1)
- 4 – 四 (sei3)
- 5 – 五 (ng5)
- 6 – 六 (luk6)
- 7 – 七 (cat1)
- 8 – 八 (baat3)
- 9 – 九 (gau2)
- 10 – 十 (sap6)
- 11 – 十一 (sap6 jat1)
- 12 – 十二 (sap6 ji6)
2. Minutes and Half Hours:
The word for “minute” in Cantonese is “分” (fan1). For example, if it’s 3:20, you can say “三點二十分” (saam1 dim2 ji6 sap6 fan1). Additionally, to express half hours, you can use “半” (bun3). For example, if it’s 4:30, you can say “四點半” (sei3 dim2 bun3).
3. AM and PM:
In Cantonese, you can use “上午” (soeng6 ng5) to indicate “AM” and “下午” (haa6 ng5) to indicate “PM.” These terms are often used in formal situations, such as train schedules or business meetings. For example, 9:00 AM is “上午九點” (soeng6 ng5 gau2 dim2).
Conclusion
Congratulations! You have now learned the essential expressions and phrases to say the time in Cantonese. Remember to adjust your language based on the formality of the situation, and use the appropriate vocabulary when asking or providing the time. Practice these phrases with native speakers or through language learning resources to improve your fluency. Happy language learning!
