Mandarin Minutes

I always liked Morris Day’s answer to this question… “time to get wild and loose”…

In Mandarin, to ask the time, say (literally)  ”now how many points”

xiànzài jǐ diǎn = 现在几点 = what time is it

This can be shortened to 

jǐ diǎn = 几点 = what time is it (often referring to what time an event will occur)

For example, if you say:

míngtiān wǒ shàng bān = 明天我上班   = Tomorrow I will go to work

someone may ask:

jǐ diǎn = 几点 = what time (do you start work)

and you can answer:

jǐu diǎn = 九点 = 9 (o’clock)

For more on telling time, see “Points and hours“