dim2點
o'clock / hour
Learn
Telling time
Hours, minutes, and clock time
Telling time in Cantonese rests on three building blocks: 點 (dim2) for the hour, 半 (bun3) for half past, and 字 (zi6), where each 字 is a five-minute mark on the clock face. Combine them and you can say anything from 三點 (3 o'clock) to 五點半 (5:30) to 兩點三個字 (2:45).
What you'll learn
- Say “o'clock” with 點 (dim2)
- Say “half” past the hour with 半 (bun3)
- Count quarters and minutes with 字 (zi6)
- Say “3 o'clock” with 三點 (saam1 dim2)
- Say “5:30” with 五點半 (ng5 dim2 bun3)
- Say “2:45” with 兩點三個字 (loeng5 dim2 saam1 go3 zi6)
In Cantonese, telling time uses “點” for “o'clock”, “半” for “half past”, and “個字” for the 5-minute marks on the clock face.
ji4而gaa1家
now
ji4而gaa1家loeng5兩dim2點
It is 2 o'clock now
ji4而gaa1家gei2幾dim2點
What time is it now?
bun3半
half
ji4而gaa1家cat1七dim2點bun3半
It is 7:30 now
zi6字
5 minutes (one clock mark)
ji4而gaa1家luk6六dim2點jat1一go3個zi6字
It is 6:05 now
saam1三dim2點
3 o'clock
saam1三dim2點fong3放hok6學
I finish school at 3 o'clock
ng5五dim2點bun3半
5:30 / half past five
ng5五dim2點bun3半fong3放gung1工
I get off work at half past five
loeng5兩dim2點saam1三go3個zi6字
2:15 / quarter past two
loeng5兩dim2點saam1三go3個zi6字hoi1開wui2會
I have a meeting at 2:15
Frequently asked questions
How do you tell the time in Cantonese?
Say the hour with 點 (dim2), so 三點 (saam1 dim2) is 3 o'clock. Add 半 (bun3) for the half hour or count 字 (zi6) for the minutes.
What does 字 mean when telling time?
字 (zi6) refers to the numbers on a clock face, and each one stands for five minutes. So 三個字 is fifteen minutes, which is why 兩點三個字 means 2:45.
How do you say half past an hour?
Add 半 (bun3) after the hour. Five thirty becomes 五點半 (ng5 dim2 bun3), literally “five o'clock half.”