八点半 · 差五分九点
half past, and minutes to the hour
Structure
数词 + 点半 · 差 + 数词 + （分） + 数词 + 点
What it means
半 after 点 means “half past”: 八点半 is 8:30. 差 means “short of”: 差五分九点 is five minutes short of nine, 8:55.
How it is built
Number + 点半: 八点半 (8:30). 差 + minutes (+ 分) + the hour you are heading for + 点: 差五分九点 (five to nine).
When to use it
差 is used mostly for the last few minutes before the hour. 八点五十五 is just as correct, and you will also hear 九点差五分.
Watch out
Don’t mix up 八点半 (8:30, a point in time) and 半个小时 (half an hour, a length of time). With 差, name the next hour: 差五分九点 is 8:55, not 9:55.
Examples
现在八点半。
It’s half past eight.
现在差五分九点。
It’s five to nine.
下午两点半我有时间。
I’m free at half past two this afternoon.
Learn this in HSK 1 · Lesson 9: 现在几点 (Telling the time)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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