Simplified Chinese course

Lesson 27 of 240

New here? This is lesson 27 of a free 240-lesson Simplified Chinese course.

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What time is it? in Simplified Chinese

Banyan Breakfast closes at two, but A-Li thinks that is far too early. Maya checks her phone while Auntie Lin pulls down the shutter.

Learn to ask the time and give a few useful answers: an exact hour, half past, and five minutes before an hour. You will also say whether a time is in the morning or evening.

By the end of this lesson

Ask the time and tell someone an exact hour, a half hour, or five minutes before an hour.

  • 现在几点？What time is it now?
  • 现在三点It's three o'clock now.
  • 三点半Half past three.
  • 差五分八点Five minutes to eight.
  • 早上七点Seven in the morning.
  • 晚上九点Nine in the evening.

Scene — the shop clock

Maya starts her day with a glance at her phone before heading to Banyan Breakfast. Later, Auntie Lin closes the shop at two, just as she always does.

A-Li, still holding his unfinished soy milk, thinks closing time sounds early. Maya checks her phone again.

Maya checks her phone at home before heading to Banyan Breakfast.

Learn — times of day

Start with the question you can use whenever you need the time. Then listen to each answer and say it aloud.

Notice how the morning and evening words make an hour more specific.

  1. Maya holds her phone toward Auntie Lin as they talk about the time at the closed shop.

    现在几点？

    What time is it now?

    When to use it: Ask this when you want to know the current time.

  2. Auntie Lin pulls down the shutter of Banyan Breakfast and turns to say goodbye.

    现在三点

    It's three o'clock now.

    When to use it: Say this when the clock shows exactly three.

  3. A-Li the yak stands by the closed shutter with unfinished soy milk, caught off guard that the shop has already closed.

    三点半

    Half past three.

    When to use it: Say this when the clock shows three thirty.

    Learn the whole time as one piece.

  4. Maya checks her phone again as evening approaches.

    差五分八点

    Five minutes to eight.

    When to use it: Say this when the clock shows seven fifty-five.

    Learn this way of telling the time as one piece.

  5. Maya reaches Banyan Breakfast in the morning as Auntie Lin looks up from the counter.

    早上七点

    Seven in the morning.

    When to use it: Say this when it is seven in the morning.

  6. A-Jie pauses at the night market and checks the time on his phone.

    晚上九点

    Nine in the evening.

    When to use it: Say this when it is nine in the evening.

Story — too early to close?

Follow Maya's phone clock through a day on Banyan Lane. At closing time, A-Li thinks Auntie Lin is shutting the shop early.

Listen for Maya's answer when she checks the time.

  1. Maya checks her phone before leaving home.
  2. Maya早上七点，出门啰。Seven in the morning. Time to head out.
  3. Just before eight, Maya reaches the breakfast shop.
  4. Auntie Lin现在几点？What time is it now?
  5. Maya差五分八点。Five minutes to eight.
  6. That afternoon, Auntie Lin has closed the shop. A-Li stands by the shutter with his unfinished soy milk.
  7. A-Li关门？还早吧？Closing? Isn't it still early?
  8. Maya现在三点。It's three o'clock now.
  9. Auntie Lin两点就关门了喔。We closed at two.
  10. A-Li对。Right.
  11. Auntie Lin再见！Goodbye!
  12. Half an hour later, Maya checks her phone again.
  13. Maya三点半了。It's half past three.
  14. Maya finally heads home that evening.
  15. Maya晚上九点，回家吧。Nine in the evening. Time to go home.

Practice — check the time

Use the clock clues to choose, complete, or put together the right time. Some questions ask for an exact hour; others ask for half past or five minutes before.

Check each answer, then say the complete line aloud.

0 of 10 done

  1. What does it mean?

    现在几点？

  2. Build the line

    It's three o'clock now.

    Tap the words in order.

  3. Fill the gap

    Half past three.

    三点____

  4. Swap the word

    The clock shows 7:55. Say that it is five minutes to eight.

    差五分____点

  5. What did you hear?

  6. Build the line

    Nine in the evening.

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Pick the reply

    Auntie Lin says:

    我们两点关门，没错吧？

    We close at two, right?

    And you reply with:

  8. What do you say?

    Auntie Lin is leaving for the day. Say goodbye to her.

  9. Fill the gap

    It's three o'clock now.

    现在____点

  10. What do you say?

    A-Li says the shop has closed too early. Ask what time it is now.

Say it — tell them the time

Play Maya as the hours pass on Banyan Lane. Answer a question about the time, ask one yourself, and check your phone when the shop is closed.

Each cue tells you what to say aloud. The clock moves forward between scenes.

  1. Morning at Banyan Breakfast. A-Li asks Maya about the time.
  2. A-Li现在几点？What time is it now?
  3. Maya (you)Tell A-Li it is seven in the morning.

    早上七点

    Seven in the morning.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

Simplified ChineseEnglish
现在几点？What time is it now?
现在三点It's three o'clock now.
三点半Half past three.
差五分八点Five minutes to eight.
早上七点Seven in the morning.
晚上九点Nine in the evening.
Next: lesson 28Days of the week

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Keep these time expressions handy in Yak Cards for your next clock check.

Review the morning, afternoon, and evening examples until the times come quickly.

Open Yak Cards