Usage note
点可以告诉我们时间，比如三点就是下午三点的意思。
Diǎn kěyǐ gàosù wǒmen shíjiān, bǐrú sān diǎn jiùshì xiàwǔ sān diǎn de yìsi.
点 can tell us the time, for example, 三点 means three o'clock in the afternoon.
Context note
点可以用来表示时间，比如几点钟。也可以表示一个很小的位置，比如一个圆点。
Diǎn kěyǐ yòng lái biǎoshì shíjiān, bǐrú jǐ diǎn zhōng. Yě kěyǐ biǎoshì yīgè hěn xiǎo de wèizhì, bǐrú yīgè yuán diǎn.
This word is used when telling time, like asking what hour it is. It can also mean a tiny spot or dot, like a point on paper.
5 examples
现在是八点
xiànzài shì bā diǎn
It's eight o'clock now.
三点钟吃午饭
sāndiǎn zhōng chī wǔfàn
Have lunch at three o'clock.
这个数字是五点
zhège shùzì shì wǔ diǎn
This number is five points.
三点一刻
sāndiǎn yī kè
Three fifteen.
两点四十五分
liǎngdiǎn sìshí wǔfēn
Two forty-five.
5 mini stories
小明每天早上七点起床。他妈妈说早点吃早餐很重要。
Xiǎomínɡ měitiān zǎoshang qī diǎn qǐchuáng. Tā māma shuō jiàndiǎn chī zǎocān hěn zhòngyào.
Xiaoming gets up at seven o'clock every morning. His mom says it's very important to have breakfast early.
小红每天三点钟开始画画。她爸爸说这样可以培养她的创造力。
Xiǎohónɡ měitiān sāndiǎn zhōng kāishǐ huàhuà. Tā dàba shuō zhème kěyǐ bǔnnéngr tā de chuàngzào liè.
Xiaohong starts drawing at three o'clock every day. Her dad says this can help develop her creativity.
妈妈说三点一刻吃水果。小明喜欢在两点四十五分开始画画。
Māma shuō sāndiǎn yī kè chī shuǐguǒ. Xiǎomínɡ xǐhuān zài liǎngdiǎn sìshí wǔfēn kāishǐ huàhuà.
Mom says to eat fruit at three fifteen. Xiaoming likes to start drawing at two forty-five.
爸爸每天三点钟下班。他喜欢在两点四十五分开始做饭。
Dàba měitiān sāndiǎn zhōng xiàbān. Tā xǐhuān zài liǎngdiǎn sìshí wǔfēn kāishǐ zuòfàn.
Dad finishes work at three o'clock every day. He likes to start cooking at two forty-five.
妈妈说三点一刻吃水果。小明喜欢在两点四十五分开始画画。
Māma shuō sāndiǎn yī kè chī shuǐguǒ. Xiǎomínɡ xǐhuān zài liǎngdiǎn sìshí wǔfēn kāishǐ huàhuà.
Mom says to eat fruit at three fifteen. Xiaoming likes to start drawing at two forty-five.
Mini dialogue
现在几点
A
现在几点？
Xiànzài jǐ diǎn?
What time is it now?
B
现在三点。
Xiànzài sān diǎn.
It is three o'clock.
几点见面
A
我们几点见面？
Wǒmen jǐ diǎn jiànmiàn?
What time shall we meet?
B
下午四点见面，好吗？
Xiàwǔ sì diǎn jiànmiàn, hǎo ma?
Let's meet at four o'clock in the afternoon, okay?
Related words and contrasts
related
分
fēn
minute
Used after 'diǎn' to express minutes, e.g., 3:10 is 'sān diǎn shí fēn'.
related
半
bàn
half
Used after 'diǎn' to express half past, e.g., 3:30 is 'sān diǎn bàn'.