correct use of cha4

[leosmith]

Ten minutes to eight. Is it:

1. ba1 dian2 cha4 shi2 fen1

2. cha4 shi2 fen1 ba1 dian2

3. something else?

(please answer with pinyin)

Thanks.

[bhchao]

cha4 shi2 fen1 zhong1 dao4 ba1

[pazu]

I think bhchao's answer sounds a bit strange.

It would be better and more common to say:

Qi dian wu shi fen (7:50)

But if you want a direct translation, it should be:

ba1 dian2 cha4 shi2 fen1

or

cha4 shi2 fen1 zhong1 dao4 ba1 dian3

[cdn_in_bj]

The natives here use:

cha4 shi2 fen1 ba1 dian2

as well as what pazu stated.

Interestingly, I've heard people from Taiwan say it this way:

ba1 dian2 cha4 shi2 fen1

[kudra]

shouldn't it be dian3 in all of the above, as pazu tried to tell you?

[HashiriKata]

shouldn't it be dian3 in all of the above, as pazu tried to tell you?

ba1 dian2 cha4 shi2 fen1

(sh)

[rootfool]

agree with pazu..

and seems like when people say cha4 shi2 fen1 zhong1 dao4 ba1 dian3,they may have something to do at eight o'clock or later...this form sounds like more accuracy than ba1 dian3 cha4 shi2 fen1.