三点三十 (sān diǎn sān shí) — three thirty (time)

Definition

Standard way to say 3:30 in Chinese — literally 'three hours thirty minutes' (点 = o'clock, 三十 = thirty). Used in schedules, appointments, and formal time-telling.

numeral
three thirty (time)

Examples

  • 三点三十。
    Wǒ men sān diǎn sān shí jiàn miàn.
    We'll meet at 3:30.
  • 三点三十。
    Huǒ chē sān diǎn sān shí chū fā.
    The train departs at 3:30.
  • 三点三十。
    Huì yì cóng sān diǎn sān shí kāi shǐ.
    The meeting starts at 3:30.

Origin

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

三 is drawn as three parallel strokes, like 一 with one stroke and 二 with two.

Open 三 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 點; 点 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
黑黑hēiblack
Sound part声符shēngfú
占
占zhàn點diǎn(r)
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 點 pairs 黑 (black) with 占 for its sound; the simplified 点 is a later abbreviation.

Open 点 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

三 is drawn as three parallel strokes, like 一 with one stroke and 二 with two.

Open 三 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

The early shape 十 was mostly a single vertical stroke, sometimes with a dot, and later gained a horizontal stroke to form a cross. For the number ten, it marked the next digit above one.

Open 十 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.