Chinese phrases
How to say what time is it in Chinese
To ask “What time is it?” in Chinese, say 现在几点？ (xiàn zài jǐ diǎn), literally “now, how many o’clock?” The answer is a number + 点: 三点 (sān diǎn), “three o’clock.”
现在几点
what time is it?
Ways to say what time is it
现在几点
Everydaywhat time is it?
The standard question.
现在几点了
Everydaywhat time is it now?
Very common. 了 adds “by now”: you feel time has passed.
几点了
With friendswhat time is it?
Short, with friends and family.
请问，现在几点
Formalexcuse me, what time is it?
To a stranger. 请问 makes it polite.
你知道现在几点吗
Everydaydo you know what time it is?
Polite with a stranger. With 了 and a sharp voice, 你知道现在几点了吗 tells someone off for being late.
How to tell the time
三点
three o’clock
The number + 点.
三点十分
3:10
Minutes take 分.
三点一刻
3:15
一刻 is a quarter of an hour. 三点十五 is just as common.
三点半
3:30
半 is “half.”
差五分三点
five to three
差 means “short of.” Today most people just say 两点五十五.
下午三点
3 p.m.
Put 上午, 下午 or 晚上 in front.
快三点了
almost three
When the minutes don’t matter.
Common mistakes
Saying 二点 for 2:00
Before 点, two is 两: 两点, not 二点. 十二点 keeps its 二.
Mixing up 点 and 小时
三点 is a time, “three o’clock.” A length of time uses 小时: 我等了三个小时, “I waited three hours.”
Putting the time after the verb
The time comes before the verb: 我三点吃饭, “I eat at three.” 我吃饭三点 is wrong.
Before class
现在几点了？
Leon: What time is it?
快三点了。
Qiqi: Almost three.
糟了，我三点半有课！
Leon: Oh no, I have class at three thirty!
那你快走吧！
Qiqi: Then hurry!
