Telling Time In Chinese? 幾點了?

[geek_frappa]

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...

[39degN]

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

[smithsgj]

Sample Time ... 2:02

兩點零二(分) (no 鐘 usually -- is it even possible?)

[39degN]

sorry for that i cant visit the site geek_frappa posted, but you are right Smith, that's impossible.

[Quest]

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.