Lessons 21–22: Telling the time and time expressions

How to ask and tell the time, the order from larger to smaller time units, the position of time adverbials, and how to use 以前 and 以后.

Hanyu textbook · Hanyu 2 · Lesson 21 · Hanyu 2 · Lesson 22

我晚上在宿舍看书。

Wǒ wǎnshang zài sùshè kàn shū.

In the evening I read in the dorm.

Explanation

Expressing time. Words that express points in time in Chinese include: 点(钟), 刻, 分... To ask the time, say: 现在几点？ (What time is it now?). 8:00 is 八点; 8:05 is 八点零五(分); 8:15 is 八点一刻 or 八点十五(分); 8:30 is 八点半 or 八点三十(分); 8:45 is 八点三刻, 八点四十五(分) or 差一刻九点; 8:55 is 八点五十五(分) or 差五分九点.

The order for expressing time in Chinese goes from the larger time unit to the smaller (年、月、日、点钟、分). Time expressions can serve as the subject, predicate, attributive or adverbial in a sentence.

If a sentence has both a place adverbial and a time adverbial, the time adverbial usually comes before the place adverbial.

"以前" and "以后" can be used on their own. They can also follow other words to form time adverbials: "……以前", "……以后".

Note (Lesson 21): after verbs or prepositions such as "来", "去", "在", "从" and "到", an object of place is needed; if it is a noun or pronoun referring to a person, you need to add "这儿" or "那儿" after it to turn it into an expression of place.

Structure

1
现在几点？ — 现在……点(……分)
Asking and telling the time. 一刻 = 15 minutes, 半 = 30 minutes, 三刻 = 45 minutes (you can also say 差一刻九点, 差五分九点).
- A：现在几点？ B：现在八点。
  A: Xiànzài jǐ diǎn? B: Xiànzài bā diǎn.
  A: What time is it now? B: It's eight o'clock.
- 八点零五分
  bā diǎn líng wǔ fēn
  8:05
- 八点一刻
  bā diǎn yí kè
  8:15
- 八点三刻
  bā diǎn sān kè
  8:45
- 差一刻九点
  chà yí kè jiǔ diǎn
  a quarter to 9 (8:45)
- 差五分九点
  chà wǔ fēn jiǔ diǎn
  five to 9 (8:55)
- 现在八点半。
  Xiànzài bā diǎn bàn.
  It's half past eight now.
2
年 → 月 → 日 → 点(钟) → 分
Time is expressed from the larger unit to the smaller.
- 1949年10月1日上午八点二十分
  yī jiǔ sì jiǔ nián shí yuè yī rì shàngwǔ bā diǎn èrshí fēn
  8:20 a.m. on October 1st, 1949
- 2008年10月25日晚上十点半
  èr líng líng bā nián shí yuè èrshíwǔ rì wǎnshang shí diǎn bàn
  10:30 p.m. on October 25th, 2008
3
Từ chỉ thời gian làm chủ ngữ / vị ngữ / định ngữ / trạng ngữ
Time expressions can serve as the subject, predicate, attributive or adverbial in a sentence.
- 今天星期五。
  Jīntiān xīngqīwǔ.
  Today is Friday.
- 我看晚上七点一刻的电影。
  Wǒ kàn wǎnshang qī diǎn yí kè de diànyǐng.
  I watch a movie at 7:15 in the evening.
- 我明天上午有课。
  Wǒ míngtiān shàngwǔ yǒu kè.
  I have class tomorrow morning.
4
Ssubjecttrạng ngữ thời giantrạng ngữ nơi chốnVverb
A time adverbial usually goes before a place adverbial; it can come before or after the subject.
- 我晚上在宿舍看书。
  Wǒ wǎnshang zài sùshè kàn shū.
  In the evening I read in the dorm.
- 晚上我在宿舍看书。
  Wǎnshang wǒ zài sùshè kàn shū.
  In the evening I read in the dorm.
- 去年我在北京学习。
  Qùnián wǒ zài Běijīng xuéxí.
  Last year I studied in Beijing.
- 我去年在北京学习。
  Wǒ qùnián zài Běijīng xuéxí.
  Last year I studied in Beijing.
5
以前 / 以后 · ……以前 / ……以后
Can be used on its own; it can also follow other words to form a time adverbial.
- 以前我是公司职员，现在是留学生。
  Yǐqián wǒ shì gōngsī zhíyuán, xiànzài shì liúxuéshēng.
  I used to be a company employee; now I'm an international student.
- 现在他是学生，以后想当教师。
  Xiànzài tā shì xuésheng, yǐhòu xiǎng dāng jiàoshī.
  He's a student now, and wants to be a teacher later.
- 来中国以前我是公司职员。
  Lái Zhōngguó yǐqián wǒ shì gōngsī zhíyuán.
  Before coming to China, I was a company employee.
- 我一个星期以后回来。
  Wǒ yí ge xīngqī yǐhòu huílái.
  I'll be back in a week.
6
来 / 去 / 在 / 从 / 到danh từ (đại từ) chỉ người这儿 / 那儿
A noun or pronoun referring to a person must have "这儿" or "那儿" added to express a place.
- 她明天来我这儿。
  Tā míngtiān lái wǒ zhèr.
  She's coming to my place tomorrow.
- 我去王老师那儿。
  Wǒ qù Wáng lǎoshī nàr.
  I'm going to Teacher Wang's place.

Common mistakes

~~我在宿舍晚上看书。 *我在北京去年学习。~~
the time adverbial must come before the place adverbial

Practice

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