Indicating Time Using ‘半’, ‘刻’, and ‘差’

Usage:

In Mandarin Chinese, various words and expressions such as ‘半’ (bàn), ‘刻’ (kè), and ‘差’ (chà) are used to indicate time, helping to specify hours and minutes.

‘半’ (bàn):

‘半’ is used to indicate "half an hour". This means 30 minutes.

• Example: 三点半 (sān diǎn bàn) - 3:30

‘刻’ (kè):

‘刻’ is used to indicate "a quarter of an hour". This means 15 minutes.

• Example: 两点一刻 (liǎng diǎn yī kè) - 2:15
• Example: 五点三刻 (wǔ diǎn sān kè) - 5:45

‘差’ (chà):

‘差’ is used to indicate time "to the hour" or "before the hour". This means the number of minutes before the next full hour.

• Example: 差五分八点 (chà wǔ fēn bā diǎn) - five minutes to eight (7:55)
• Example: 差一刻六点 (chà yī kè liù diǎn) - a quarter to six (5:45)

Examples:

• 现在是三点半。(Xiànzài shì sān diǎn bàn.) - It is now 3:30.
• 我两点一刻有一个会议。(Wǒ liǎng diǎn yī kè yǒu yīgè huìyì.) - I have a meeting at 2:15.
• 我们差十分九点出发。(Wǒmen chà shí fēn jiǔ diǎn chūfā.) - We leave at ten minutes to nine (8:50).