几点
jǐ diǎn
In Chinese, the phrase for "what time" is 几点 (jǐ diǎn).
几点 is used to ask for a specific hour and minute of the day. When expressing time in Mandarin Chinese, hours are often indicated by a numeral followed by the word 点 (diǎn). To specify minutes, you can place the word 分 (fēn) after the numerical value. For "half-past," you can use the word 半 (bàn), and for "quarter past" or "quarter to," you can use 一刻 (yī kè).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 几 (jǐ), meaning "how many" and 点 (diǎn), meaning "dot" or "point", which is used to denote the hour in time-telling.
Which one should you use?
While 几点 specifically asks for a precise time involving hours and minutes, the term 什么时候 is a broader way to ask "when", which could refer to a general time like a day, month or year.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding 钟 (zhōng), meaning "clock", to the end of 几点 makes the phrase 几点钟, which is a common way to ask "what time" or "what o'clock".
How do you pronounce it?
jǐ diǎn
Did you know?
- The term 刻 (kè), used for 'quarter', comes from the ancient Chinese system of measuring time with sundials.
- The character 几 (jǐ) is specifically used for numbers that are expected to be small, typically under ten, which is why it is the standard for asking about hours in a day.
- The word 点 (diǎn) implies that time is viewed as a series of specific, discrete points on a scale.
Examples in context
- 您几点下课？At what time does your class end?This sentence is useful for asking when a class ends using 几点.Tatoeba #410476 by GlossaMatik, translation #1892006 by CK
- 现在几点了？What time is it?This sentence is useful for asking the current time using 几点.Tatoeba #3377949 by GlossaMatik, translation #428402 by laofmoonster
- 您几点钟上班？What time do you go to work?This sentence is useful for asking when someone goes to work using 几点.Tatoeba #425136 by GlossaMatik, translation #425133 by CM
- 请问现在几点？Excuse me, what time is it now?
- 请问几点钟？May I ask what time it is?
- 现在几点啊？What time is it now, ah?
- 三点3:00
- 三点十五分3:15
- 两点半2:30
- 41 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a movie schedule.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen电影几点开始？diànyǐng jǐ diǎn kāishǐ?What time does the movie start?
- 俊杰 Junjie七点半开始。qī diǎn bàn kāishǐ.It starts at seven-thirty.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen我们几点到电影院？wǒmen jǐ diǎn dào diànyǐngyuàn?What time should we arrive at the cinema?
- 俊杰 Junjie六点五十见。liù diǎn wǔshí jiàn.See you at six-fifty.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
