HSK 1
时间表示法
shí jiān biǎo shì fǎ
How to tell time and dates in Chinese
Explanation
These are the rules for telling time in Chinese, covering how to say dates and how to say clock times. General principle: state from the LARGEST UNIT to the smallest (year → month → day → hour). Structure for dates: Number + 年 (nián - year) + Number + 月 (yuè - month) + Number + 日/号 (rì/hào - day). E.g. 2020年12月25日. In writing use 日, while in speech 号 (hào) is often used, e.g. 七月十号 (July 10). Numbers are read directly: the year is read digit by digit, while the month and day are read as ordinary numbers. Structure for days of the week: 星期 (xīngqī) + a number 1-6, except Sunday which is 星期日 (rì) or 星期天 (tiān). Structure for clock time: Number + 点 (diǎn - o'clock) + Number + 分 (fēn - minute). E.g. 两点二十五分 (2:25).
- "2 o'clock" is 两点 (liǎng diǎn), using 两 and NOT 二. - For minutes under 10, add 零 (líng - zero/oh): 三点零五分 (3:05). - 半 (bàn - half) = 30 minutes: 五点半 (5:30). - 差 (chà - to lack/to): 差两分八点 (two minutes to eight = 7:58).
Saying "2 o'clock" as 二点 (wrong, it must be 两点); reversing the large-to-small order; forgetting 零 when the minutes are less than 10.
Examples
(1) How to say the year, month, day, and day of the week
December 25, 2020
July 10
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
(2) How to tell the clock time
Two o'clock (2:00)
Two twenty-five (2:25)
Five past three (3:05)
Half past five (5:30)
Two minutes to eight (7:58)
Practice
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Learn “时间表示法” effectively
The grammar point “时间表示法” (How to tell time and dates in Chinese) is one of the key structures at HSK 1. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
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