<p>It's no problem to use either in practice, though people used 12 hour format more (because 6 is easier to say than 18 ). When being asked: 现在几点, I might answer either 6点半 or 18点30. 18点30 sounds a little bit formal or "verbose". </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-29T13:11:12.200Z
2018-08-29T13:11:12.200Z
dan
<p>I've never seen in Chinese study materials that time could be said/written in 24 hour format. It is always in 12 hour format with addition of description like 早上, 下午... E.g.:</p>

<ul>
<li>早上八点半</li>
<li>晚上九点四十五分</li>
</ul>

<p>And never like:</p>

<ul>
<li>二十一点四十五分</li>
</ul>

<p>Is it ok to say/write time in 24 hour format?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-29T12:45:14.797Z
Typically, only military, airport and train station use 24 hours format
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-29T13:34:37.583Z
零点零一分钟：００：０１，十九点零四分，１９：０４，二十三点五十九分，２３：５９ famous song 零点零一分:https://www.google.com/search?q=%E9%9B%B6%E7%82%B9%E9%9B%B6%E4%B8%80%E5%88%86&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-1-ab
user6065
<grammar>
Say time in 24 hour format
# Say time in 24 hour format

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-08-29)

I've never seen in Chinese study materials that time could be said/written in 24 hour format. It is always in 12 hour format with addition of description like 早上, 下午... E.g.:

* 早上八点半
* 晚上九点四十五分

And never like:

* 二十一点四十五分

Is it ok to say/write time in 24 hour format?

**Tags:** grammar

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Typically, only military, airport and train station use 24 hours format  
> **username_2**: 零点零一分钟：００：０１，十九点零四分，１９：０４，二十三点五十九分，２３：５９ famous song 零点零一分:https://www.google.com/search?q=%E9%9B%B6%E7%82%B9%E9%9B%B6%E4%B8%80%E5%88%86&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-1-ab  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-08-29. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

It's no problem to use either in practice, though people used 12 hour format more (because 6 is easier to say than 18 ). When being asked: 现在几点, I might answer either 6点半 or 18点30. 18点30 sounds a little bit formal or "verbose".


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