刻 kè — quarter of an hour

Meanings

1. 1

   quarter of an hour

   Fifteen minutes, used in telling the time: 三点一刻 is a quarter past three and 三点三刻 a quarter to four. Half past has its own word — 三点半 — so 两刻 is never said.

   measure

Example sentences

• 现在三点一刻。/現在三點一刻。Xiànzài (fourth tone, falling) sān (first tone, high and level) diǎn (third tone, dipping) yí (second tone, rising) kè. (fourth tone, falling)···

  It is a quarter past three.

• 我们等了一刻钟。/我們等了一刻鐘。Wǒmen (third tone, dipping) děngle (third tone, dipping) yí (second tone, rising) kè (fourth tone, falling) zhōng. (first tone, high and level)···

  We waited for a quarter of an hour.

Common mistakes

• Not quite现在三点两刻。

  Correct现在三点半。

  Chinese counts quarters only as 一刻 and 三刻. Two quarters is a half, and a half has its own word: 半.

Similar words