(1)“点”and“分”are used to express time in Chinese, observing the principle of “the bigger unit preceding the smaller unit”.
“点”means “o’clock”, indicating a whole hour. For example:
9:00 →九点(jiǔ diǎn)
11:00 → 十一点( shí yī diǎn)
2:00 →两点(liǎng diǎn )
*Note: The counterpart of 2 o'clock in Chinese is “两点(liǎng diǎn)” instead of “二点(èr
diǎn)”.
(2)If it is not a “whole-hour” time, “分” is used. The pattern is “……点……分”. For example:
5:30→五点三十分(wǔ diǎn sān shí fēn)
11:10→十一点十分(shí yì diǎn shí fēn)
2:05→两点零五分(liǎnɡ diǎn línɡ wǔ fēn)
(3)To distinguish atime before noon from one afternoon, the pattern“上午(morning)点(……分)”or“下午(afternoon)……点(……分)”is used. For example:
8:00am→上午八点(shànɡ wǔ bā diǎn)
5:25pm→下午五点二十五分(xià wǔ wǔ diǎn èr shí wǔ fēn)