Telling time in Chinese is a combination of the appropriate number, plus dian (dee-an), which means something like “point of time.” In this usage it is equivalent of the English “o’clock.”
Time (of day) |
Shijian (shr-jee-an) |
时间 |
Hour |
Xiaoshi (shee-ow-shr) |
小时 |
Half an hour |
Ban xiaoshi (bahn-shee-ow-shr) |
半小时 |
Minute |
Fen (fern) |
分 |
a.m. |
Shangwu (shahng-woo) |
上午 |
p.m. |
Xiawu (shee-ah-woo) |
下午 |
In China the 24-hour day is divided into four periods:
Midnight to 6 a.m. (early morning) |
qingzao (cheeng-zow) |
清早 |
6 a.m. to noon (morning) |
Zaoshang (zow-shahng) |
早上 |
Noon to 6 p.m. (afternoon) |
Xiawu (shee-ah-woo) |
下午 |
6 p.m to midnight (evening) |
Wanshang (wahn-shahng) |
晚上 |
In designating the time period as well as the hour, both words precede the hour, as in the following examples.
1 a.m. |
Qingzao yi dian (cheeng-zow ee- dee-an) |
清早一点 |
8 a.m. |
Zaoshang ba dian (zow-shahng bah dee-an) |
早上八点 |
1 p.m. |
Xiawu yi dian (shee-ah-woo ee dee-an) |
下午一点 |
What time? |
Ji dian? (jee dee-an) |
几点 |
At / in |
Zai (zigh) |
在 |
Early |
Zao (zow) |
早 |
Late |
Wan (wahn) |
晚 |
On time |
Zhunshi (ju-wun-shr) |
准时 |
In the morning |
Zai zaoshang (zigh zow-shahng) |
在早上 |
In the afternoon |
Zai xiawu (zigh shee-ah-woo) |
在下午 |
In the evening |
Zai wanshang (zigh wahn-shahng) |
在晚上 |
1 o’clock |
Yi dian (ee dee-an) |
一点 |
1 a.m. |
Zaoshang yi dian (zow-shahng ee dee-an) |
早上一点 |
1:10 |
Yi dian shifen (ee dee-an shr-fern) |
一点十分 |
1:30 |
Yi dian ban (ee dee-an bahn) |
一点半 |
2 o’clock |
Liang dian (lee-ahng dee-an) |
两点 |
3 o’clock |
San dian (sahn dee-an) |
三点 |
2 a.m. |
Zaoshang liang dian (zow-shahng lee-ahng dee-an) |
早上两点 |
2 p.m. |
Xiawu liang dian (shee-ah-woo lee-ahng dee-an) |
下午两点 |
2:30 |
Liang dian ban (ee dee-an bahn) |
两点半 |
3 o’clock |
San dian (sahn dee-an) |
三点 |
3 a.m. |
Zaoshang san dian (zow-shahng sahn dee-an) |
早上三点 |
3 p.m. |
Xiawu san dian (shee-ah-woo sahn dee-an) |
下午三点 |
3:15 |
San dian shiwufen (sahn dee-an shr-woo-fern) |
三点十五分 |
3:30 |
San dian ban (sahn dee-an bahn) |
三点半 |
4 o’clock |
Si dian (suh dee-an) |
四点 |
5 o’clock |
Wu dian (woo dee-an) |
五点 |
6 o’clock |
Liu dian (leo dee-an) |
六点 |
7 o’ clock |
Qi dian (chee dee-an) |
七点 |
8 o’clock |
Ba dian (bah dee-an) |
八点 |
9 o’clock |
Jiu dian (jeo dee-an) |
九点 |
10 o’clock |
Shi dian (shr dee-an) |
十点 |
11 o’clock |
Shiyi dian (shr-ee dee-an) |
十一点 |
12 o’clock |
Shier dian (shr-urr dee-an) |
十二点 |
What time is it?
Ji dian-le? (jee dee-an-ler) 几点了？
It is 6:30
Liu dian sanshi (leo dee-an sahn-shr) 六点三十
It is 12:30
Shier dian sanshi (shr-urr dee-an sahn-shr) 十二点三十
What time are we leaving?
Women shenme shijian zou? (woh-mern shern-mo shr-jee-an zoe) 我们什么时间走？
What time does the bus leave?
Gonggong qiche jidian likai? (Gohng-gohng chee-cher jee-dee-an lee-kigh) 公共汽车几点离开？
What times is breakfast?
Zaocan shi ji dian? (zow-tsahn shr jee dee-an) 早餐是几点？
What times is lunch?
Wucan shi ji dian? (woo-tsahn shr jee dee-an) 午餐是几点？
What times is dinner
Wancan shi ji dian? (wahn-tsahn shr jee dee-an) 晚餐是几点？
One moment, please
Deng yi deng (derng ee derng) 等一等
What time does the museum open?
Bowuguan jidian kaimen? (boh-woo-gwahn jee-dee-an kigh-mern) 博物馆几点开门？
What time does the theatre open?
Juchang jidian kaimen? (jwee-chahng jee-dee-an kigh-mern) 剧场几点开门？
What time does the play start?
Huaju jidian kaishi? (hwah-jwee jee-dee-an kigh-shr) 话剧几点开始？
What time does the film start?
Dianying jidian kaishi? (dee-an-yeeng jee-dee-an kigh-shr) 电影几点开始？ |
