Time in Mandarin is 时间 shíjiān .

First of all, 半 (bàn) means “half”. The structure here is: number + 点 (diǎn) + 半 (bàn) For example; 6 o’clock is 六点半 liù diǎn bàn.

Question 1

How to say Time in Mandarin?

Accepted Answer

Time in Mandarin is 时间 shíjiān.

Question 2

How to tell the time in Mandarin?

Accepted Answer

If you know how to say the numbers in Chinese, this is going to be very easy for you!

Just add your number before 点 (diǎn).

For example 3 o’clock is 三点 sān diǎn.

Question 3

How to tell the time in Mandarin with half hours?

Accepted Answer

First of all, 半 (bàn) means “half”.

The structure here is: number + 点 (diǎn) + 半 (bàn)

For example; 6 o’clock is 六点半 liù diǎn bàn.

Question 4

How to tell the time in Mandarin with quarters?

Accepted Answer

When you want to say a quarter past the hour, use 一刻 (yí kè) after the time on the hour.

Structure: number + 点 (diǎn) + 一刻 (yí kè)

In Chinese, people often use 三刻 (sānkè) to express the three quarters past the hour.

Structure: number of the hour + 点 (diǎn) + 三刻 (sānkè)

Question 5

Does China use the 12 or 24 hour format?

Accepted Answer

In China, people uses a 12-hour time system with “morning”, “afternoon” or “evening” to express the time of the day.

For example, 7am is 早上七点 zǎoshang qī diǎn.

Question 6

How to ask for the time in Mandarin?

Accepted Answer

The standard expression you can use to ask the time is “几点了( jǐ diǎnle)?”

You can add the word “现在 xiànzài” to ask “What time is it now?”: 现在几点了? (xiànzài jǐ diǎnle)

Grammar Point	Pattern	Example
Asking and telling the time	00 点 00 分	现在四点二十五分。
Using 在 to indicate location	S+ 在 + Location + V	弟弟在书店买书。
Using 怎么 to ask “how”	S+ 怎么 + Verb / Adj ？	你怎么去上班？
要 to Indicate “want / need / should”	S + 要 + Verb / Noun	我要学汉语。
The difference between 和 and 跟	S + 和 / 跟 + Person + V + O	我和朋友去玩。
Expressing “too” with 也	S + 也 + Verb / Phrase	她也喜欢跳舞。
Expressing "all" with 都	S + 都 + V / Adj	我们都要去滑雪。
Talk about age with 岁	S+ Number + 岁	她18岁了。
很 to imply "very"	N + 很 + Adj	我很忙。
Possessive particle 的	S + 的 + Noun	这是我的手机。

Chinese Grammar Bank

HSK 1