RealHSK

HSK 1Lesson 13 of 13 · 4 grammar points

Everyday numbers, dates and times

Dates move from larger to smaller units; ordinal numbers identify position rather than amount. Prices and clock times have conventional spoken forms. Read these expressions as units instead of interpreting each digit independently.

Learning goals (4)
  • Money amounts.
  • Ordinals.
  • Dates.
  • Clock time.

钱数表示法

Money amounts

State an amount with 元 or colloquial 块. A following smaller denomination can specify a fractional amount; context may permit omission.

这本书十块钱。

Zhè běn shū shí kuài qián.

This book costs ten yuan.

More

Pitfall: Do not confuse the currency measure with an arbitrary object classifier.

第二

Ordinals

Place 第 before a number to express order rather than quantity. Add an appropriate classifier before a noun.

这是第二课。

Zhè shì dì èr kè.

This is lesson two.

More

Pitfall: 两课 counts two lessons; 第二课 identifies the second lesson.

年、月、日、星期表示法

Dates

State dates from larger to smaller units: year, month, day. 星期 introduces a weekday. Year digits are normally read individually.

今天是五月三号，星期一。

Jīn tiān shì wǔ yuè sān hào, xīng qī yī.

Today is Monday, May third.

More

Year digits are read individually: 二〇二六年. Dates proceed 年→月→日/号. 星期一 to 星期六 name Monday through Saturday; Sunday is 星期日 or 星期天. The example weekday/date combination is illustrative and does not specify a particular year.

Pitfall: 月 precedes 号; a calendar date is not a duration.

钟点表示法

Clock time

State hour+点 followed by minutes; 半 gives half past. Use 分钟 for duration when needed, not 点.

现在三点半。

Xiàn zài sān diǎn bàn.

It is half past three now.

More

三点=3:00; 三点十分=3:10; 三点半=3:30. 一点 can be one o'clock, while 一点儿 can mean a little. Duration is a separate concept: 三个小时 means three hours.

Pitfall: 三点 is a clock time; 三个小时 is a duration.

Source details (official syllabus)

  • Money amounts

    Syllabus item
    钱数表示法
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L1-067
    PDF page
    388 (printed 385)

  • Ordinals

    Syllabus item
    序数表达法1：第+数词
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L1-068
    PDF page
    388 (printed 385)

  • Dates

    Syllabus item
    （1）年、月、日、星期表示法
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L1-069
    PDF page
    388 (printed 385)

  • Clock time

    Syllabus item
    （2）钟点表示法
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L1-070
    PDF page
    388 (printed 385)