When referring to an amount of hours we use the measure word \u4e2a<\/a><\/span> (g\u00e8):<\/p>\n\n\n\n #\u4e2a (g\u00e8) + \u5c0f\u65f6 (xi\u01ceo sh\u00ed)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e00\u4e2a\u5c0f\u65f6<\/a><\/span> (y\u012b g\u00e8 xi\u01ceo sh\u00ed) – 1 hour<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e24\u4e2a\u5c0f\u65f6<\/a><\/span> (li\u01ceng g\u00e8 xi\u01ceo sh\u00ed) – 2 hours<\/p>\n\n\n\n When counting in Chinese, the number 2 is not \u4e8c<\/a><\/span> (\u00e8r), but \u4e24<\/a><\/span> (li\u01ceng).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Half an hour is \u534a<\/a><\/span> (b\u00e0n), which comes in place of the number:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u534a\u4e2a\u5c0f\u65f6<\/a><\/span> (b\u00e0n ge xi\u01ceo sh\u00ed) – half an hour<\/p>\n\n\n\n To combine hours and half hours place the number of hours first, then the half hour:<\/p>\n\n\n\n #\u4e2a (g\u00e8) + \u534a (b\u00e0n) + \u5c0f\u65f6 (xi\u01ceo sh\u00ed)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e09\u4e2a\u534a\u5c0f\u65f6<\/a><\/span> (s\u0101n g\u00e8 b\u00e0n xi\u01ceo sh\u00ed) – 3 and a half hours<\/p>\n\n\n\n When telling the time, a phrase indicating how many minutes or seconds can end in the noun \u949f<\/a><\/span> (zh\u014dng), meaning clock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u56db\u5206\u949f<\/a><\/span> (s\u00ec f\u0113n zh\u014dng) – four minutes<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e94\u79d2\u949f<\/a><\/span> (w\u01d4 mi\u01ceo zh\u014dng) – 5 seconds<\/p>\n\n\n\n Halves can also be added here after \u5206 (f\u0113n):<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e00\u5206\u534a<\/a><\/span> (y\u012b f\u0113n b\u00e0n) – one and a half minutes<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e09\u79d2\u534a<\/a><\/span> (s\u0101n mi\u01ceo b\u00e0n) – three and a half seconds<\/p>\n\n\n\n Expressing time on the hour uses the character \u70b9<\/a><\/span> (di\u01cen) meaning \u2018dot\u2019. Often, the word for clock, \u949f (zh\u014dng), can be omitted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hour + \u70b9 (di\u01cen) (\u949f) (zh\u014dng)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u516d\u70b9\u949f<\/a><\/span> (li\u00f9 di\u01cen zh\u014dng) – six o\u2019clock<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u516b\u70b9\u949f<\/a><\/span> (b\u0101 di\u01cen zh\u014dng) – eight o\u2019clock<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is common to speak the time, as you read it on a digital clock:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e5d\u70b9\u4e8c\u5341\u5206<\/a><\/span>(\u949f)<\/a><\/span> (ji\u01d4 di\u01cen \u00e8r sh\u00ed f\u0113n (zh\u014dng)) – 9:25<\/p>\n\n\n\n The character \u949f (zh\u014dng), is implied within the sentence and does not need to be used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the minutes number is lower than 10, then you may use the word for zero, \u96f6<\/a><\/span> (l\u00edng):<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e94\u70b9\u96f6\u4e03\u5206<\/a><\/span> (w\u01d4 di\u01cen l\u00edng q\u012b f\u0113n) – 5:07<\/p>\n\n\n\n To express \u2018a quarter past\u2019, use \u4e00\u523b<\/a><\/span> (y\u012b k\u00e8), and for \u2018three quarters past\u2019, use \u4e09\u523b<\/a><\/span> (s\u0101n k\u00e8).<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u56db\u70b9\u4e00\u523b<\/a><\/span> (s\u00ec di\u01cen y\u012b k\u00e8) – 4:15<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u516b\u70b9\u4e09\u523b<\/a><\/span> (b\u0101 di\u01cen y\u012b k\u00e8) – 8:45<\/p>\n\n\n\n To refer to a specific time past the hour, the character \u8fc7<\/a><\/span> (gu\u00f2) is used, meaning \u2018spent\u2019:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hour + \u70b9 (di\u01cen) + \u8fc7 (gu\u00f2) + minutes + \u5206 (f\u0113n)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5341\u70b9\u8fc7\u5341\u5206(\u949f)<\/a><\/span> (sh\u00ed di\u01cen gu\u00f2 sh\u00ed f\u0113n (zh\u014dng)) – 10:10<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u516b\u70b9\u8fc7\u56db\u5341\u5206<\/a><\/span> (b\u0101 di\u01cen gu\u00f2 s\u00ec sh\u00ed f\u0113n) – 8:40<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5dee<\/a><\/span> (ch\u00e0) can be used to refer to minutes before the hour:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hour + \u70b9 (di\u01cen) + \u5dee (ch\u00e0) + minutes + \u5206 (f\u0113n)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u516d\u70b9\u5dee\u4e8c\u5341\u5206<\/a><\/span> (li\u00f9 di\u01cen ch\u00e0 \u00e8r sh\u00ed f\u0113n) – 5:40<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5341\u4e00\u70b9\u5dee\u4e94\u5206<\/a><\/span> (sh\u00ed y\u012b di\u01cen ch\u00e0 w\u01d4 f\u0113n) – 10:55<\/p>\n\n\n\n Time of day is indicated with various time phrases in the place of AM and PM. They are always used before the actual time is given.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u65e9\u4e0a<\/a><\/span> (z\u01ceo shang) – morning<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e0a\u5348<\/a><\/span> (sh\u00e0ng w\u01d4) – before noon<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e2d\u5348<\/a><\/span> (zh\u014dng w\u01d4) – midday<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e0b\u5348<\/a><\/span> (xi\u00e0 w\u01d4) – afternoon<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u665a\u4e0a<\/a><\/span> (w\u01cen shang) – evening<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u534a\u591c<\/a><\/span> (b\u00e0n y\u00e8) – midnight\/ early hours of the morning<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u665a\u4e0a\u516d\u70b9\u534a<\/a><\/span> (w\u01cen shang li\u00f9 di\u01cen b\u00e0n) – six thirty in the evening<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u65e9\u4e0a\u516b\u70b9\u949f<\/a><\/span> (z\u01ceo shang b\u0101 di\u01cen zh\u014dng) – eight in the morning<\/p>\n\n\n\n Clock time phrases always come after the subject at the beginning of the predicate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4ed6\u6bcf\u5929\u665a\u4e0a\u4e03\u70b9\u53bb\u5916\u9762\u8dd1\u6b65<\/a><\/span>\u3002(t\u0101 m\u011bi ti\u0101n w\u01cen shang q\u012b di\u01cen q\u00f9 w\u00e0i mian p\u01ceo b\u00f9)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Every evening at 7pm he goes out for a run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u73b0\u5728\u51e0\u70b9\u949f<\/a><\/span>\uff1f(xi\u00e0n z\u00e0i j\u01d0 di\u01cen zh\u014dng) – What time is it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are two different calendars in use in China, the Western calendar, and the Agricultural calendar, which marks traditional Chinese festivals revolving around the moon and the solstices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Years in Chinese are expressed with the character \u5e74<\/a><\/span> (ni\u00e1n). Just add \u5e74 (ni\u00e1n) after the year:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e09\u5e74<\/a><\/span> (s\u0101n ni\u00e1n) 3 years<\/p>\n\n\n\n To ask how many years, use the phrase \u51e0\u5e74<\/a><\/span>? (j\u01d0 ni\u00e1n) or \u591a\u5c11\u5e74<\/a><\/span> (du\u014d shao ni\u00e1n?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4eca\u5e74<\/a><\/span> (j\u012bn ni\u00e1n) – this year<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u660e\u5e74<\/a><\/span> (m\u00edng ni\u00e1n) – next year<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u540e\u5e74<\/a><\/span> (h\u00f2u ni\u00e1n) – two years from now<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5927\u540e\u5e74<\/a><\/span> (d\u00e0 h\u00f2u ni\u00e1n) – three years from now<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u53bb\u5e74<\/a><\/span> (q\u00f9 ni\u00e1n) – last year<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u524d\u5e74<\/a><\/span> (qi\u00e1n ni\u00e1n) – the year before last<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5927\u524d\u5e74<\/a><\/span> (d\u00e0 qi\u00e1n ni\u00e1n) – three years ago<\/p>\n\n\n\n A year is read in single numbers followed by \u5e74 (ni\u00e1n):<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e00\u4e5d\u516b\u4e03\u5e74<\/a><\/span> (y\u012b ji\u01d4 b\u0101 q\u012b ni\u00e1n) – 1987<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u54ea\u5e74<\/a><\/span>\uff1f(n\u01ce ni\u00e1n) – Which year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4f60\u662f\u54ea\u5e74\u6bd5\u4e1a\u7684<\/a><\/span>\uff1f(n\u01d0 sh\u00ec n\u01ce ni\u00e1n b\u00ec y\u00e8 de?) – Which year did you graduate?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6708<\/a><\/span> (yu\u00e8) is the character that refers to months in Chinese, and is also used when referring to a specific month\u2019s name. The measure word for a month is \u4e2a (g\u00e8) . To count months just add the classifier after the number, followed by \u6708 (yu\u00e8).<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e24\u4e2a\u6708<\/a><\/span> (li\u01ceng g\u00e8 yu\u00e8) – two months<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e94\u4e2a\u6708<\/a><\/span> (w\u01d4 g\u00e8 yu\u00e8) – five months<\/p>\n\n\n\n To ask \u2018How many months?\u2019 use the phrase:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u51e0\u4e2a\u6708<\/a><\/span>\uff1f(j\u01d0 ge yu\u00e8)<\/p>\n\n\n\n or<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u591a\u5c11\u4e2a\u6708<\/a><\/span>\uff1f (du\u014d shao g\u00e8 yu\u00e8)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4f60\u5df2\u7ecf\u5b66\u4e86\u591a\u5c11\u6708\u4e86<\/a><\/span>\uff1f (n\u01d0 y\u01d0 j\u012bng xu\u00e9 le du\u014d shao yu\u00e8 le?) – How many months have you studied for?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u8fd9\u4e2a\u6708<\/a><\/span> (zh\u00e8 g\u00e8 yu\u00e8) – this month<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e0b\u4e2a\u6708<\/a><\/span> (xi\u00e0 g\u00e8 yu\u00e8) – next month<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e0a\u4e2a\u6708<\/a><\/span> (sh\u00e0ng g\u00e8 yu\u00e8) – last month<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e00\u6708<\/a><\/span> (y\u012b yu\u00e8) – January<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e8c\u6708<\/a><\/span> (\u00e8r yu\u00e8) – February<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e09\u6708<\/a><\/span> (s\u0101n yu\u00e8) – March<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u56db\u6708<\/a><\/span> (s\u00ec yu\u00e8) – April<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e94\u6708<\/a><\/span> (w\u01d4 yu\u00e8) – May<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u516d\u6708<\/a><\/span> (li\u00f9 yu\u00e8) – June<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e03\u6708<\/a><\/span> (q\u012b yu\u00e8) – July<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u516b\u6708<\/a><\/span> (b\u0101 yu\u00e8) – August<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e5d\u6708<\/a><\/span> (ji\u01d4 yu\u00e8) – September<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5341\u6708<\/a><\/span> (sh\u00ed yu\u00e8) – October<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5341\u4e00\u6708<\/a><\/span> (sh\u00ed y\u012b yu\u00e8) – November<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5341\u4e8c\u6708<\/a><\/span> (sh\u00ed \u00e8r yu\u00e8) – December<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u51e0\u6708<\/a><\/span>\uff1f(j\u01d0 yu\u00e8) – Which month?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4f60\u662f\u51e0\u6708\u751f\u7684<\/a><\/span>? (n\u01d0 sh\u00ec j\u01d0 yu\u00e8 sh\u0113ng de) – In which month were you born?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The date is referred to with the \u53f7<\/a><\/span> (h\u00e0o) character. To talk about a specific day of the month, add \u53f7 (h\u00e0o) after the number:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e8c\u5341\u4e03\u53f7<\/a><\/span> (\u00e8r sh\u00ed q\u012b h\u00e0o) – 27th (of the month)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e8c\u5341\u4e8c\u53f7<\/a><\/span> (\u00e8r sh\u00ed \u00e8r h\u00e0o) – 22nd (of the month)<\/p>\n\n\n\n To ask for the date use the following sentences:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u51e0\u53f7<\/a><\/span>\uff1f(j\u01d0 h\u00e0o) What is the date?<\/p>\n\n\n\nMinutes and Seconds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Telling the Time<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"1\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/1-1.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"telling-the-time-in-chinese-like-a-digital-clock\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writtenchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Telling-the-Time-in-Chinese-like-a-Digital-Clock.png?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nSpecific Time<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
AM\/PM<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Asking the Time<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Chinese Calendar<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Referring to Years<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Saying the Year<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Talking about years<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Months<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Names of the Months<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"3\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/3.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDates on the calendar<\/h2>\n\n\n\n