{{Grammar Box}}
Time in Chinese, just like in English, is expressed by stating the hour first, and then the minute (big to small).
== On the Hour ==
The time of day in Chinese is formed with a [[Structure of numbers|number]] 1 to 12 (一 (yī) to 十二 (shí'èr)) followed by 点 (diăn). This 点 (diăn) is equivalent to ''o'clock'' in English. In China, people generally use a twelve-hour clock, preceded by 上午 (shàngwŭ) for "a.m." or 下午 (xiàwŭ) for "p.m." when necessary.
=== Structure ===
(Date and/or time of day +) x 点
Sometimes people use the longer 点钟 (diǎnzhōng) instead of just 点 (diǎn), but you're fine using the short form.
=== Examples ===
If you want to include more specific information, start with the day or date, followed by the general time of day, with the exact clock time last. (This is the big-to-small pattern.) This is how Chinese gets around the need for "a.m." or "p.m.": use 上午 (shàngwǔ) for times in the morning, and 下午 (xiàwǔ) for times in the afternoon.
* 九 点jiǔ diǎn9 o'clock
* 上午 七 点shàngwǔ qī diǎn7 o'clock a.m.
* 下午 四 点xiàwǔ sì diǎn4 o'clock p.m.
* 中午 十二 点zhōngwǔ shí'èr diǎn 12 o'clock noon
* 明天 晚上 七 点míngtiān wǎnshang qī diǎn7 o'clock p.m. tomorrow evening
* 9 月 9 号 早上 六 点jiǔ yuè jiǔ hào zǎoshang liù diǎnSeptember 9th, 6 o'clock a.m.
* 星期三 上午 九 点Xīngqīsān shàngwǔ jiǔ diǎnWednesday at 9 o'clock a.m.
Note that '''two o'clock is 两点''' (liǎng diǎn), not 二点 (èr diǎn). (For more information on when to use 两 (liǎng) vs. 二 (èr), see our article on [[comparing "er" and "liang"]]).
"''Twelve'' o'clock," however, is still 十二点 (shí'èr diǎn).
== Half Hours ==
Half hours are added after 点 (diăn) and are indicated with 半 (bàn).
=== Structure ===
x 点 + 半
=== Examples ===
* 五 点 半wǔ diǎn bàn5:30
* 下午 两 点 半xiàwǔ liǎng diǎn bàn2:30 p.m.
* 星期天 上午 十 点 半Xīngqītiān shàngwǔ shí diǎn bàn Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
* 昨天 晚上 七 点 半zuótiān wǎnshang qī diǎn bàn7:30 yesterday evening
* 今天 下午 四 点 半jīntiān xiàwǔ sì diǎn bàn4:30 p.m. this afternoon.
As a beginner, that should be all you need. If you've mastered all of these structures and want to get a little more advanced, see [[structure of times (advanced)]].
==See also==
*[[Structure of times (advanced)]]
*[[Structure of numbers]]
*[[Structure of dates]]
*[[Structure of days of the week]]
== Sources and further reading ==
=== Books ===
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 74-5) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)]] (pp. 160) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561910401/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561910401 →buy]
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed)]] (pp. 185) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561926235/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7561926235 →buy]
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
{{Used for|Expressing time and date}}
{{Basic Grammar|点|A1|Number + 点(钟)|现在 十一点 。|grammar point|ASGN6BBU}}
{{Rel char|点钟}}
{{Similar|Structure of times (advanced)}}
{{Similar|Structure of numbers}}
{{Similar|Structure of dates}}
{{Similar|Before a specific time}}
{{Similar|Structure of days of the week}}
{{POS|Numbers}}