Time in Chinese: How to Tell Time in a Correct Way?

Learn with real-life examples, ancient time culture, and modern expressions

Introduction

Why do Chinese people say “half to eight” when it’s 7:30? Or why does your Chinese friend text “晚上八点三刻见”?

Understanding time in Chinese isn’t just about memorizing numbers — it’s about learning how modern life and ancient culture intertwine.

In this guide from WuKong Chinese, you’ll learn how to:

• Say any time in Chinese correctly
• Avoid common mistakes like “七点五”
• Discover how ancient Chinese people divided the day using the twelve zodiac animals

The Golden Rules of Chinese Time

In Chinese, telling time is simple once you understand three basic elements:

• 点 (diǎn) – hour marker
• 分 (fēn) – minutes
• 刻 (kè) – quarter hours

Here’s how digital times convert into Chinese:

Key takeaway:

• Use “点” for hours, “分” for minutes.
• “刻” divides an hour into quarters.
• No “am” or “pm” — you use time phrases like 上午 (morning), 下午 (afternoon), 晚上 (evening).

How to Say Time Naturally in Chinese

1. 整点 (Exact Hour):
   1. 7:00 → 七点
   2. 12:00 → 十二点
   3. Add time of day: 上午七点, 晚上十二点
2. 半点 (Half Hour):
   1. 7:30 → 七点半
3. 刻钟 (Quarter Hour):
   1. 7:15 → 七点一刻
   2. 7:45 → 七点三刻
4. 分钟 (Minutes):
   1. 7:05 → 七点零五分
   2. 7:10 → 七点十分
   3. 7:50 → 七点五十分

Cultural Insights: From Digital Clocks to Ancient Hours

Before modern clocks, the Chinese divided a day into 12 时辰 (shíchen) — each lasting about two hours and linked to a zodiac animal.

Example:

Master: “今日训练 卯时到辰时!”

Student: “Wait… that’s 5am to 9am?”

Learning 时辰 connects modern learners to thousands of years of Chinese history and daily life rhythm.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Incorrect number format: ✗ 七点五 → Correct: 七点零五分
2. Mixing up duration and time: ✗ 三小时 = 3 hours (duration) ✗ 三点 = 3 o’clock (specific time)
3. Forgetting time phrases: ✗ 七点 → ambiguous ✓ 上午七点 (7 AM) / 晚上七点 (7 PM)

Practice Corner

Try saying these aloud:

1. 4:20 = 四点二十分
2. 8:45 = 八点三刻
3. 10:30 = 十点半
4. 9:00 AM = 上午九点
5. 6:15 PM = 晚上六点一刻

Challenge yourself: Can you describe your daily routine in Chinese using time phrases?

FAQs about Time in Chinese

Q1: Why do Chinese people say 两点 instead of 二点? In Chinese, “两 (liǎng)” is used for counting objects or units, including hours. “二” is used in numbers or addresses.

Q2: Do Chinese people use AM and PM? Not in daily speech. Instead, time of day words are used — like 上午 (morning), 下午 (afternoon), 晚上 (evening).

Q3: How do you say ‘a quarter to eight’ in Chinese? You can say 八点差一刻, which literally means “8 o’clock minus one quarter.”

Q4: Is the Chinese time system 12-hour or 24-hour? Both are used. In speech, people use the 12-hour clock with morning/evening markers. In writing or schedules, the 24-hour clock is common.

Conclusion

Understanding how to tell time in Chinese is more than a language skill — it’s a window into culture, habits, and history.

From simple phrases like “三点半” to poetic expressions like “午时三刻,” every way of telling time reflects how Chinese people perceive daily rhythm and balance.

By mastering these expressions, you’ll not only speak more fluently but also connect more deeply with Chinese culture.

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Mao Ying | WuKong Chinese Teacher

Master’s degree in International Chinese Education from Peking University. Dedicated to the field of Chinese language education, with 7 years of experience as an international Chinese language teacher.