jǐ diǎn: 几点 - What time

• Keywords: 几点, jǐ diǎn, ji dian, what time in Chinese, how to ask the time in Mandarin, Chinese question words, asking for time Chinese, scheduling in Chinese, 几点 vs 什么时候, HSK 1 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn the most essential way to ask “What time is it?” in Mandarin Chinese using the phrase 几点 (jǐ diǎn). This comprehensive guide breaks down its meaning, characters, and cultural context. Discover how to use it for scheduling, asking about events, and telling time with dozens of practical example sentences for beginners. Master the crucial difference between 几点 (jǐ diǎn) and 什么时候 (shénme shíhou) to avoid common mistakes and sound more natural.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jǐ diǎn
• Part of Speech: Question phrase
• HSK Level: HSK 1
• Concise Definition: “What time?” or “At what time?”
• In a Nutshell: 几点 (jǐ diǎn) is the fundamental question phrase used in Mandarin to ask for a specific time on the clock. It is the direct equivalent of the English “What time…?” and is used constantly in daily life for checking the current time, scheduling appointments, and asking about the start or end time of an event.

• 几 (jǐ): This character is a question word that means “how many?”. It is typically used when you expect the answer to be a relatively small number (like the 12 hours on a clock face). It can also mean “a few” or “several” in a non-question context.
• 点 (diǎn): This character's original meaning is “dot” or “point.” In the context of time, it functions as the measure word for the hour, equivalent to “o'clock.” You can think of it as referring to the points or numerals on a clock.

When combined, 几点 (jǐ diǎn) literally translates to “how many dots/points?” which is a beautifully logical way of asking, “What hour is it on the clock?”

While 几点 (jǐ diǎn) is a straightforward, functional phrase, its use is tied to the cultural importance of punctuality and planning in modern China. Punctuality (准时 - zhǔnshí) is highly valued, especially in professional, academic, and formal social settings. Being late can be seen as a sign of disrespect. Therefore, using 几点 (jǐ diǎn) to confirm timings for meetings, dates, and transport is not just practical—it's a way of showing respect for other people's schedules. Compared to Western culture, the core function is identical. However, politeness is often expressed by adding a prefix. While you can walk up to a friend and just ask “现在几点?” (Xiànzài jǐ diǎn?), when asking a stranger, it's more common and polite to say “请问，现在几点?” (Qǐngwèn, xiànzài jǐ diǎn?), which is similar to adding “Excuse me…” or “Could you please tell me…” in English. This simple addition softens the directness of the question and demonstrates social awareness.

几点 (jǐ diǎn) is used constantly in everyday conversation, from casual chats on WeChat to formal business arrangements.

This is the most common use. You typically add 现在 (xiànzài), meaning “now.”

• 现在几点？ (Xiànzài jǐ diǎn?) - What time is it now?
• 请问，现在几点了？ (Qǐngwèn, xiànzài jǐ diǎn le?) - Excuse me, what time is it now? (The `了` adds a sense of “by now.”)

It's essential for making plans with friends, family, or colleagues. The structure is typically: Subject + 几点 + Verb Phrase.

• 我们明天几点见面？ (Wǒmen míngtiān jǐ diǎn jiànmiàn?) - What time are we meeting tomorrow?
• 你一般几点睡觉？ (Nǐ yībān jǐ diǎn shuìjiào?) - What time do you normally go to sleep?

Use it to ask about the start or end time of movies, classes, meetings, etc.

• 电影几点开始？ (Diànyǐng jǐ diǎn kāishǐ?) - What time does the movie start?
• 会议几点结束？ (Huìyì jǐ diǎn jiéshù?) - What time does the meeting end?

• Example 1:
  • 请问，现在几点了？
  • Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, xiànzài jǐ diǎn le?
  • English: Excuse me, what time is it now?
  • Analysis: A polite and common way to ask a stranger for the time. 请问 (qǐngwèn) makes the question polite.
• Example 2:
  • 我们几点吃晚饭？
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen jǐ diǎn chī wǎnfàn?
  • English: What time are we eating dinner?
  • Analysis: A very common question used within a family or group of friends to coordinate a meal.
• Example 3:
  • 你的航班几点起飞？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ de hángbān jǐ diǎn qǐfēi?
  • English: What time does your flight take off?
  • Analysis: Shows how 几点 (jǐ diǎn) is used for specific, scheduled events like travel.
• Example 4:
  • 明天的会议是上午几点？
  • Pinyin: Míngtiān de huìyì shì shàngwǔ jǐ diǎn?
  • English: What time in the morning is the meeting tomorrow?
  • Analysis: This example adds a time frame, 上午 (shàngwǔ), to ask for a more specific time of day.
• Example 5:
  • 你每天早上几点起床？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ měitiān zǎoshang jǐ diǎn qǐchuáng?
  • English: What time do you get up every morning?
  • Analysis: Perfect for asking about daily routines and habits.
• Example 6:
  • 银行几点开门？
  • Pinyin: Yínháng jǐ diǎn kāimén?
  • English: What time does the bank open?
  • Analysis: A practical question for finding out business operating hours. The subject (银行) comes before 几点.
• Example 7:
  • 派对是周六晚上几点开始？
  • Pinyin: Pàiduì shì zhōuliù wǎnshàng jǐ diǎn kāishǐ?
  • English: What time does the party start on Saturday night?
  • Analysis: This sentence demonstrates a more complex time structure, specifying the day (周六), part of the day (晚上), and then asking for the specific hour (几点).
• Example 8:
  • 最后一班地铁几点走？
  • Pinyin: Zuìhòu yī bān dìtiě jǐ diǎn zǒu?
  • English: What time does the last subway train leave?
  • Analysis: Essential vocabulary for anyone navigating a Chinese city. 走 (zǒu) here means “to leave” or “to depart.”
• Example 9:
  • 你几点能到公司？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ jǐ diǎn néng dào gōngsī?
  • English: What time can you arrive at the office?
  • Analysis: A common question from a manager or colleague. 能 (néng) means “can” or “be able to.”
• Example 10:
  • 他没说他几点回来。
  • Pinyin: Tā méi shuō tā jǐ diǎn huílái.
  • English: He didn't say what time he would be back.
  • Analysis: This shows 几点 (jǐ diǎn) used in an embedded question within a statement, not as a direct question.

The most significant point of confusion for learners is the difference between 几点 (jǐ diǎn) and 什么时候 (shénme shíhou).

• 几点 (jǐ diǎn): Asks for a specific time on the clock. The expected answer is a number, like “three o'clock” (三点), “7:30” (七点半), etc.
• 什么时候 (shénme shíhou): Asks “when” in a general sense. The answer can be a time, but it can also be a day, month, year, or general period like “tomorrow” (明天), “next week” (下个星期), or “after lunch” (午饭后).

Think of it this way: 几点 is for precision, 什么时候 is for general timing.

• Mistake: Asking about a birthday.
  • Incorrect: 你的生日是几点？(Nǐ de shēngrì shì jǐ diǎn?)
  • Why it's wrong: This asks “What time is your birthday?”, which is a strange question. You should ask for the date (month and day).
  • Correct: 你的生日是什么时候？ (Nǐ de shēngrì shì shénme shíhou?) OR 你的生日是几月几号？ (Nǐ de shēngrì shì jǐ yuè jǐ hào?)
• Mistake: Asking when someone is going to China.
  • Incorrect: 你几点去中国？ (Nǐ jǐ diǎn qù Zhōngguó?)
  • Why it's wrong: Unless you are asking for the exact departure time of their flight on that day, this is the wrong question. It implies you want an answer like “at 8 PM.”
  • Correct: 你什么时候去中国？(Nǐ shénme shíhou qù Zhōngguó?) - This is the natural way to ask, and the answer could be “next month” or “in the summer.”

• 什么时候 (shénme shíhou) - The general question word for “when”; the most important term to distinguish from 几点.
• 现在 (xiànzài) - Now; frequently used with 几点 to ask for the current time.
• 时间 (shíjiān) - Time (as a general, abstract concept).
• 点 (diǎn) - O'clock; the measure word for hours.
• 分 (fēn) - Minute; used when telling time (e.g., 三点十分 - sān diǎn shí fēn - 3:10).
• 半 (bàn) - Half; used for “half past the hour” (e.g., 三点半 - sān diǎn bàn - 3:30).
• 刻 (kè) - Quarter of an hour (e.g., 三点一刻 - sān diǎn yī kè - 3:15).
• 小时 (xiǎoshí) - Hour (used for duration, not telling time, e.g., “three hours long”).
• 准时 (zhǔnshí) - Punctual, on time.
• 迟到 (chídào) - To be late, to arrive late.