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How to Tell Time in Chinese
Ask the time and say simple hour-and-minute answers with 点 and 分.
Quick answer
Use 现在几点？to ask the time. Put the hour before 点 and minutes after it.
现在三点十分。
It is 3:10 now.
Hear the phrase, then repeat it aloud.
When to use it
Use 点 after the hour. Add the number of minutes, with 分 when useful.
Common mistake
Saying 二点 for two o’clock. Before 点, two is 两: 两点
. Every other hour keeps its usual number: 一点, 三点, 十二点.
- Not
现在二点。- Say
- 现在两点。
Practise aloud
现在几点？ What time is it now?
现在三点。 It’s three o’clock now.
现在三点十分。 It’s 3:10 now.
You’ve got this!
Look at a clock and say three different times aloud. Real-time practice helps the structure feel useful immediately.