diǎn

Structure of times (basic)

Whole hours are the number plus 点.

Number + 点(钟)

How it works

十一点 is eleven o'clock. 钟 can be added — 十一点钟 — but is usually dropped in speech.

Two o'clock uses 两, not 二: 两点. And as with days of the week, no verb is needed: 现在十一点 is a full sentence.

Examples

  • xiàn zài shí yī diǎn

    现在十一点。

    It's eleven o'clock.

  • wǒ qī diǎn qǐ chuáng

    我七点起床。

    I get up at seven.

  • liǎng diǎn kāi huì

    两点开会。

    The meeting is at two.

Common mistakes

  • 二点 is wrong for 2:00 — say 两点.