geek_frappa Posted March 25, 2004 at 04:07 AM Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 at 04:07 AM ok, so we tell the time in Mandarin Chinese by using the formula... #HOUR# DIAN #MINUTE# FEN (ZHONG) do Chinese speakers always use 一刻 (yi1 ke4) for the :15 and :45 ?? and 半鐘 (ban4 zhong1) for :30 ? Sample Time ... 2:02 http://chinese.primezero.com/pzcdz/u.php?search=2%3A02 Sample Time ... 3:43 http://chinese.primezero.com/pzcdz/u.php?search=3%3A43 i guess i haven't heard people speak enough to know what every time would sound like... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39degN Posted March 25, 2004 at 06:03 AM Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 at 06:03 AM you can just simply say 两点十五分 两点半 两点四十五分 两点一刻，差一刻三点 is natural saying TOO, but not so common or a bit literary i think in cantonese 两点十五分 will be 两点三个字 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithsgj Posted March 25, 2004 at 08:42 AM Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 at 08:42 AM Sample Time ... 2:02 兩點零二(分) (no 鐘 usually -- is it even possible?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39degN Posted March 25, 2004 at 09:30 AM Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 at 09:30 AM sorry for that i cant visit the site geek_frappa posted, but you are right Smith, that's impossible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quest Posted March 25, 2004 at 05:25 PM Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 at 05:25 PM i think in cantonese 两点十五分 will be 两点三个字 yes, we count the 12 numbers in cantonese. 2:17 would be 两点三个半字(or 两点三个几字 or 两点三四个字 or 两点三过小小/过啲)。of course, 两点十七分 is also used. Some foreign born cantonese always mess up the time telling system. e.g. "九点十“ is 9:50 in cantonese, but it's often used by them to mean 9:10. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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