Learning how to say time in Cantonese is essential when communicating with Cantonese speakers. Whether you want to schedule a meeting, catch a train, or simply tell the time, understanding the formal and informal ways to express time in Cantonese will greatly enhance your language skills. In this guide, we will explore various expressions, provide tips, and offer examples to help you navigate the intricacies of telling time in Cantonese.
Table of Contents
Formal Expressions of Time:
1. What time is it? – 幾點 (gei2 dim2) or 邊個時間 (bin1 go3 si4 gaan3) – This is a common question to ask when you want to know the current time.
2. At what time? – 幾點鐘 (gei2 dim2 zung1) – Use this phrase when asking for a specific time.
3. Time-related vocabulary:
- Hours – 鐘 (zung1)
- Minutes – 分鐘 (fan1 zung1)
- Seconds – 秒 (miu5)
- Midnight – 凌晨 (ling4 san4)
- Noon – 正午 (zing3 ng5)
- Morning – 早上 (zou2 soeng6)
- Afternoon – 下午 (haa6 haa5)
- Evening – 晚上 (maan5 soeng6)
- Night – 夜晚 (je6 maan5)
Informal Ways to Express Time:
1. What’s the time? – 幾點未 (gei2 dim2 mei6) – This is a casual way of asking for the current time.
2. In how many hours? – 幾個鐘先 (gei2 go3 zung1 sin1) – You can use this phrase when questioning the number of hours until a certain time.
3. Time-related slang:
- Right now – 而家 (ji4 gaa1)
- In a moment – 陣 (zan6)
- On time – 準時 (zeon2 si4)
- Early – 早到 (zou2 dou3)
- Late – 遲到 (ci4 dou3)
Useful Tips:
1. Cantonese time follows a similar structure to English, with hours and minutes.
2. To express half past the hour, use the phrase “半點” (bun3 dim2) after the hour.
3. When expressing the time, put the hour before the minutes, such as “三點十分” (saam1 dim2 sap6 fan1) which means “three ten” or “3:10”.
4. Pay attention to tones and pronunciation, as Cantonese is a tonal language. Using the wrong tone can change the meaning of the word.
Example: Saying “十點” (sap6 dim2) with a rising tone would mean “ten o’clock,” while saying it with a falling tone would mean “ten points” like in a game.
5. Practice using time-related vocabulary and phrases in everyday conversations to reinforce your learning.
Examples:
Now let’s see some examples of how to say specific times in Cantonese:
1. It’s 8:30 AM. – 早上八點半 (zou2 soeng1 baat3 dim2 bun3)
2. I’ll meet you at 3:45 PM. – 我三點四十五分見你 (ngo5 saam1 dim2 sei3 sap6 ng5 fan1 gin3 nei5)
3. The train leaves at 6:15 PM. – 火車係六點十五分走 (fo2 ce1 hai6 luk6 dim2 sap6 ng5 fan1 zau2)
Congratulations! You’ve taken the first step towards mastering how to say time in Cantonese. Remember, practice makes perfect, so keep honing your skills and immerse yourself in Cantonese-speaking environments. Soon enough, telling time in Cantonese will become effortless for you.
