幾點
The English phrase "what time" is translated into Cantonese as 幾點.
The phrase 幾點 is used to ask for a specific point in time, such as 'what time did you arrive?' or 'what time is it?'
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 幾 (how many) and 點 (point/dot), literally meaning 'how many points'.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding 鐘 (clock) to the end of 幾點 makes the phrase 'what o'clock', which is a common way to specify time in a sentence.
Did you know?
- While 幾點 is used for clock time, Cantonese has a separate system of 'double hours' (雙時辰) inherited from ancient China, where one 'period' equals two modern hours.
- The character 點 (point) is also the same character used for 'to order' food in a restaurant, such as in the phrase 點菜 (to order dishes).
- The word 幾 in 幾點 is also used as an intensifier in spoken Cantonese to mean 'quite' or 'very', as in 幾好 for 'quite good'.
Examples in context
- 你尋晚幾點瞓呀？What time did you go to bed yesterday?This sentence is useful for asking what time someone went to bed yesterday using 幾點.Tatoeba #6103470 by nickyeow, translation #2512952 by Gulo_Luscus
- 唔知而家幾點呢？I wonder what time it is.This sentence is useful for expressing wonder about what time it is using 幾點.Tatoeba #7031998 by nickyeow, translation #682470 by Source_VOA
- 你通常幾點起身㗎？What time do you usually get up?This sentence is useful for asking about a person's usual wake-up time using 幾點.Tatoeba #403873 by nickyeow, translation #16774 by CK
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Jun Kit and Mei Ling are planning to meet for dinner.
- 俊傑 Chun Kit美玲，我哋幾點見？mei5 ling4, ngo5 dei6 gei2 dim2 gin3?Mei Ling, what time are we meeting?
- 美玲 Mei Ling七點，可以嗎？cat1 dim2, ho2 ji5 maa1?Seven o'clock, is that okay?
- 俊傑 Chun Kit可以，我準時到。ho2 ji5, ngo5 zeon2 si4 dou3.Okay, I will arrive on time.
- 美玲 Mei Ling好，到時見！hou2, dou3 si4 gin3!Great, see you then!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
