Are you ready to master the concept of time in Chinese? Look no further, because this comprehensive guide has got you covered. From reading a digital clock to expressing time in Chinese, we’ll break down all the necessary information for you. By the end of this article, you’ll be able to fluently talk about time in Chinese just like a native speaker.
Table of Contents
Reading a Digital Clock in Chinese
One of the first things you’ll need to learn when it comes to telling time in Chinese is how to read a digital clock. Here are the numbers you’ll need to know:
0: 零 (líng)
1: 一 (yī)
2: 二 (èr)
3: 三 (sān)
4: 四 (sì)
5: 五 (wǔ)
6: 六 (liù)
7: 七 (qī)
8: 八 (bā)
9: 九 (jiǔ)
To read the time on a digital clock, simply read each number as it appears. For example, the time “12:34” would be read as “十二点三十四分” (shíèr diǎn sānshí sì fēn).
Expressing Time in Chinese
Now that you know how to read a digital clock, let’s move on to expressing time in Chinese. Here are some key phrases you’ll need to know:
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At: 在 (zài)
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In: 在 (zài)
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On: 在 (zài)
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It is: 是 (shì)
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A.M.: 上午 (shàngwǔ)
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P.M.: 下午 (xiàwǔ)
To express the time in Chinese, simply combine these phrases with the digital clock reading you learned above. For example, “It is 12:34 A.M.” would be expressed as “现在是上午十二点三十四分” (xiànzài shì shàngwǔ shíèr diǎn sānshí sì fēn).
Telling Time in Chinese: Other Time Expressions
In addition to reading and expressing the time in Chinese, there are also a few other time expressions you’ll want to be familiar with. Here are a few examples:
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Now: 现在 (xiànzài)
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Today: 今天 (jīntiān)
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Yesterday: 昨天 (zuótiān)
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Tomorrow: 明天 (míngtiān)
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The day after tomorrow: 后天 (hòutiān)
Asking for the Time in Chinese
To ask for the time in Chinese, you can use the phrase “几点了?” (jǐ diǎn le?). This translates to “What time is it?” in English. You can also use the phrase “现在几点?” (xiànzài jǐ diǎn?), which translates to “What time is it now?”
Here’s an example conversation using these phrases:
Person 1: “Excuse me, do you know what time it is?” (English)
Person 2: “几点了?” (jǐ diǎn le?) (Chinese)
Person 1: “It’s 3:00.” (English)
Person 2: “三点了.” (sān diǎn le.) (Chinese)
Time of Day in Chinese
In addition to telling the time, it’s also helpful to know how to express the time of day in Chinese. Here are some key phrases to know:
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Morning: 早上 (zǎoshang)
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Afternoon: 下午 (xiàwǔ)
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Evening: 晚上 (wǎnshang)
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Night: 晚上 (wǎnshang)
Here’s an example conversation using these phrases:
Person 1: “What are you doing this afternoon?” (English) Person 2: “下午我要去学习中文.” (xiàwǔ wǒ yào qù xuéxí zhōngwén.) (Chinese) Person 1: “Oh, what time do you have class?” (English) Person 2: “下午五点.” (xiàwǔ wǔ diǎn.) (Chinese)
Talking about Daily and Future Plans
Now that you know how to ask for the time and express the time of day in Chinese, let’s put these phrases into action with some example sentences. Here are a few examples of how you might use them in a conversation about daily and future plans:
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“我每天早上六点起床.” (wǒ měitiān zǎoshang liù diǎn qǐchuáng.) (I get up at 6:00 every morning.)
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“今天下午我有中文课.” (jīntiān xiàwǔ wǒ yǒu zhōngwén kè.) (I have Chinese class this afternoon.)
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“明天晚上我们可以去看电影吗?” (míngtiān wǎnshang wǒmen kěyǐ qù kàn diànyǐng ma?) (Can we go see a movie tomorrow night?)
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Utilizing Phrases to Talk about Time
Time Flies: You’re Now a Chinese Time-Telling Pro!
Congratulations on making it to the end of this comprehensive guide on telling time in Chinese! By now, you should be able to read a digital clock, express the time in Chinese, and use other common time expressions. With a little practice, you’ll be able to fluently talk about time in Chinese just like a native speaker. Don’t forget to continue practicing and expanding your vocabulary to improve your language skills even further. Good luck on your language-learning journey!
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