Times to the minute (点 … 分)

Telling time to the minute

• Hours use point点diǎn; minutes use part分fēn.
• 三点sān diǎn十五分shí wǔ fēn = "3:15"; 两点liǎng diǎnhalf半bàn = "half past two".
• Just stack them: hour-point点diǎn, minute-part分fēn.

Number + point点diǎn + Number + part分fēn

• X point点diǎn Y part分fēn = "X o'clock Y minutes".

now现在xiàn zàithree o'clock三点sān diǎnfifteen minutes十五分shí wǔ fēn。

• now现在xiàn zài三点sān diǎn十五分shí wǔ fēn = "it's 3:15 now."

Handy shortcuts

• half半bàn = half (两点liǎng diǎnhalf半bàn = 2:30); used in 参差差chà X part分fēn = "X minutes to" (used in 参差差chà五分wǔ fēn三点sān diǎn = 2:55).

Recap

Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Numbers.