Chinese learning

Daily learning flow

Usage note

是指时间的四分之一,通常用于表示钟表上的时针移动到下一个数字之间的间隔。

kè shì zhǐ shí jiān de sì fēn yī, tōng cháng yòng yú biǎo示 zhōng bǎo上 上的 shí shí jīng钟表上的 shí shí qí时针移动到 xià yī gè dùshù下一个数字之间的 jiān gé。

刻 refers to a quarter of time, typically used to indicate the interval between the movement of the clock's hour hand to the next number.

Context note

常常出现在时间的讨论中,比如在谈论上课的时间或者安排活动时。

kè cháng chánɡ chū xiàn shí jiān de lùn dǐnɡ zhōng, bǐ rú zài tánlùn kào shàng de shíjiān huò qiě pái áng huó dònɡ shí。

刻 often appears in discussions about time, such as when talking about class times or scheduling activities.

5 examples

现在是九点一
xiàn zài shì jiǔ diǎn yí kè。
It's now nine o'clock and a quarter.
我们可以在十一点开始会议。
wǒ men kě yǐ zài shí yī diǎn kè kāi shǐ huì yì。
We can start the meeting at ten o'clock and a quarter.
电影将在八点一结束。
diàn yǐng jiāng zài bā diǎn yí kè jié shù。
The movie will end at eight o'clock and a quarter.
他每天早上七点半起床。
tā měi tiān zǎo shàng qī diǎn bàn kè qǐ chuáng。
He gets up at seven-thirty and a quarter every morning.
会议通常在九点一开始。
huì yì tōng cháng zài jiǔ diǎn yí kè kāi shǐ。
The meeting usually starts at nine o'clock and a quarter.

5 mini stories

妈妈说,九点一我们去公园。
mā ma shuō, jiǔ diǎn yí kè wǒ men qù gōng yuán。
Mom said we should go to the park at nine o'clock and a quarter.
爸爸说,十一点我们要开始工作。
bà ba shuō, shí yī diǎn kè wǒ men yào kāi shǐ gōng zuò。
Dad said we should start work at ten o'clock and a quarter.
老师说,八点一我们开始上课。
lǎo shī shuō, bā diǎn yí kè wǒ men kāi shǐ shàng kè。
The teacher said we should start class at eight o'clock and a quarter.
朋友说,七点半我们去图书馆。
péng yǒu shuō, qī diǎn bàn kè wǒ men qù tú shū guǎn。
The friend said we should go to the library at seven-thirty and a quarter.
姐姐说,九点一我们一起去吃晚饭。
jiě jie shuō, jiǔ diǎn yí kè wǒ men yì qǐ qù chī wǎn fàn。
The sister said we should go together for dinner at nine o'clock and a quarter.

Mini dialogue

现在几点

A
请问现在几点了?
Qǐngwèn xiànzài jǐ diǎn le?
Excuse me, what time is it now?
B
现在是三点一
Xiànzài shì sān diǎn yī kè.
It is a quarter past three now.

差一刻

A
动画片几点开始?
Dònghuàpiàn jǐ diǎn kāishǐ?
What time does the cartoon start?
B
差一五点开始,别着急。
Chà yī kè wǔ diǎn kāishǐ, bié zháojí.
It starts at a quarter to five, don't worry.

Related words and contrasts

related
fēn
minute

A unit of time; 15 minutes is one quarter of an hour.

related
小时
xiǎo shí
hour

A quarter is 1/4 of an hour, often used in telling time.

contrast
bàn
half

Half an hour is 30 minutes, while a quarter is 15 minutes.

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