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点diǎn(after a number) o'clock

HSK 1word

By Chinese Copilot · Last updated

点 (diǎn) means "o'clock" when it follows a number, as in 三点 for three o'clock. It also means a point or dot in space or writing, and a small amount or a bit. Learners meet it early for clock times and for light measuring of quantity.

What does 点 mean?

  1. 1.

    (after a number) o'clockmeasure word

  2. 2.

    point; dot; spot; specknoun

  3. 3.

    a small amount; a bitnoun

What does the character 点 mean?

  • 点(after a number) o'clock

How do you use 点?

Grammar patterns

  1. 1

    Number + 点

    Say the hour (1–12), then 点, for o'clock. Use 两 for two o'clock: 两点, not 二点.

For clock time, 点 follows the hour number; 两点 is the form for two o'clock, and a longer 点钟 is optional.

Patterns

  • Number + 点

    明天八点来。

    Míngtiān bā diǎn lái.

    Come at eight o'clock tomorrow.

  • 一 + 点

    给我一点水。

    Gěi wǒ yì diǎn shuǐ.

    Give me a bit of water.

What are some examples of 点 in a sentence?

  1. HSK 1

    现在三点。

    Xiànzài sān diǎn.

    It is three o'clock now.

  2. HSK 1

    我们九点去。

    Wǒmen jiǔ diǎn qù.

    We go at nine o'clock.

  3. HSK 1

    我想吃一点。

    Wǒ xiǎng chī yì diǎn.

    I want to eat a bit.

  4. HSK 1

    请看这一点。

    Qǐng kàn zhè yì diǎn.

    Please look at this point.

How is 点 used in a conversation?

  1. Speaker A:

    现在几点？

    Xiànzài jǐ diǎn?

    What time is it now?

  2. Speaker B:

    现在三点。

    Xiànzài sān diǎn.

    It is three o'clock now.

  3. Speaker A:

    我们几点去？

    Wǒmen jǐ diǎn qù?

    What time do we go?

  4. Speaker B:

    九点去。

    Jiǔ diǎn qù.

    We go at nine.

  5. Speaker A:

    你想吃一点吗？

    Nǐ xiǎng chī yì diǎn ma?

    Do you want to eat a bit?

  6. Speaker B:

    好，我想吃一点。

    Hǎo, wǒ xiǎng chī yì diǎn.

    Okay, I want to eat a bit.

Can you use 点 correctly?

0 of 3 answered
  1. 1.Fill in the blank: 现在三___。
  2. 2.Which correctly says "two o'clock"?
  3. 3.Fill in the blank: 我想吃一___。

What should you learn next?

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English glosses on this page are adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG (snapshot 2026-10-23), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Glosses were edited for learners.