现在几点？
xiàn zài jǐ diǎn?
The English phrase 'what time is it?' is expressed in Chinese as 现在几点？ (xiàn zài jǐ diǎn?)
This phrase is used to ask for the current time of day. The most common and standard way to ask for the time in Mandarin Chinese is to say 现在几点了？ To make the question sound more relaxed and friendly, you can add 啊 to the end, resulting in 现在几点啊？ For a more informal touch, you can use 现在几点了啊？
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, 现在几点？ translates to 'now how many dots/hours?', where 点 (diǎn) refers to the dots on a clock face or the hour mark.
Which one should you use?
While 几点 (jǐ diǎn) is the standard way to ask for the time, you should not use 多少点 (duō shǎo diǎn), as duō shǎo is reserved for larger or indefinite quantities.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, the word for 'now' can be expressed as 依家 or 而家.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word 几 (jǐ) is a question particle used specifically for small numbers, which is why it is used to ask for the hour. Additionally, adding the particle 了 (le) after 点 in the phrase 现在几点了？ makes the question sound more natural by implying 'what time has it become now?'
How do you pronounce it?
xiàn zài jǐ diǎn?
Did you know?
- The word 点 (diǎn) is also used when ordering food to 'point' at a menu item, meaning to order a dish.
- In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of 'time' in phrases like 现在 (xiàn zài) literally translates to 'presently existing', emphasizing the state of being in the moment.
- The character 点 (diǎn) is used as a measure word for 'a little bit' when placed before a noun, such as 点钱 for 'a little money'.
Examples in context
- 现在几点了？ (xiàn zài jǐ diǎn le?)What time is it now?
- 请问现在几点？ (qǐng wèn xiàn zài jǐ diǎn?)Excuse me, what time is it now?
- 现在几点啊？ (xiàn zài jǐ diǎn a?)What time is it now, huh?
- 现在三点半。It is 3:30 now.
- 不好意思，现在几点？bù hǎo yì si, xiàn zài jǐ diǎn?Sorry, what time is it now?
Example conversation
曉雯 asks 志強 for the time in a living room.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen志强，现在几点？zhì qiáng, xiàn zài jǐ diǎn?Zhiqiang, what time is it now?
- 志强 Zhiqiang现在三点半。xiàn zài sān diǎn bàn.It is 3:30 now.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen太晚了。tài wǎn le.It is too late.
- 志强 Zhiqiang快去睡觉吧。kuài qù shuì jiào ba.Go to sleep quickly.
