Telling the hour (Number + 点)
IntroducedRead the hour in a natural spoken form
- You tell a friend that class finishes at three o'clock.
- three o'clock三点finish class下课。 — three o'clock三点 gives the clock hour, not the duration of class.
You tell a friend that class finishes at three o'clock. What does 三点下课。 communicate?
三点 gives the clock hour, not the duration of class. Use 两点 as the usual spoken form for two o'clock and 三点钟 as a full form for three. Numbers read as digits in codes are a different task from ordinary clock speech.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is Telling the hour (Number + point点). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
I我three o'clock三点finish class下课。
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: 2 o'clock = ____ 点。
2 o'clock = 两点 (use 两, not 二).
Read examples in context
now现在two o'clock两点。
- In the opening example, three o'clock三点finish class下课。: three o'clock三点 gives the clock hour, not the duration of class.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
How do you say “2 o'clock”?
For clock hours use 两: 两点 (not 二点).
Build: “Class ends at three.”
Subj + Time + Verb: 我 + 三点 + 下课.
Know the boundary
- Use two o'clock两点 as the usual spoken form for two o'clock and three o'clock三点clock钟 as a full form for three.
- Numbers read as digits in codes are a different task from ordinary clock speech.
二点 is the correct way to say 2 o'clock.
Say 两点, not 二点.
三点下课 means that the class lasts for three hours.
Use 两点 as the usual spoken form for two o'clock and 三点钟 as a full form for three. Numbers read as digits in codes are a different task from ordinary clock speech. 三点 gives the clock hour, not the duration of class.
Use the distinction
- three o'clock三点 gives the clock hour, not the duration of class.
- Use two o'clock两点 as the usual spoken form for two o'clock and three o'clock三点clock钟 as a full form for three. Numbers read as digits in codes are a different task from ordinary clock speech.
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Numbers.
You tell a friend that class finishes at three o'clock. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.