<p>Both 现在是什么时间 and 现在几点了 mean the same. </p>

<p>现在几点了 is used in casual situations. </p>

<p>现在是什么时间 sounds that the speaker might think there would be something happening shortly or at certain time, so he/she wants to know the time. For example, 现在是什么时间？ 我们该上课了吧？</p>

<p>The effect is subtle. They can be used interchangeably.  But 什么时间 does sound the time seems more important. </p>

<p>P.S. 现在是什么时间？ can also mean <em>What time is it for?</em> E.g. A: 现在是什么时间？ B: 现在是午饭时间/早操时间/自习时间/etc.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-17T07:44:36.747Z
@YiFan I agree.
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-16T14:53:26.847Z
2019-11-16T23:51:29.927Z
2019-11-16T23:51:29.927Z
dan
<p>It's very appropriate to ask time using <code>现在是什么时间</code>, even when you talk to someone, however, this sentence has different meaning when you don't end it with a question mark. It can be an accuse for someone who is not aware of the time. For example：<code>现在是什么时间！你怎么还在这里？</code> which means you're too late to do something. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-17T01:33:38.417Z
2019-11-17T01:33:38.417Z
sylvia
<blockquote>
  <p><a href="http://youdao.com/w/%E7%8E%B0%E5%9C%A8%E6%98%AF%E4%BB%80%E4%B9%88%E6%97%B6%E9%97%B4" rel="nofollow noreferrer">现在是什么时间?</a><br>
  Now is what time?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>This seems to be an alternative way of asking for the time in Chinese.  (The usual way is 现在几点了?)  However, something feels "off" about this question: I can only find it used in two situations, (a) when English is translated into Chinese, and (b) for questions such as:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><a href="http://youdao.com/w/%E4%BC%A6%E6%95%A6" rel="nofollow noreferrer">伦敦</a>现在是什么时间?<br>
  What time is it in London? (<a href="https://zhidao.baidu.com/question/2121483862679236667.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">link</a>)</p>
</blockquote>

<p><strong>Question</strong>: How appropriate is 现在是什么时间? for asking the time?</p>

<time>
How appropriate is 现在是什么时间? for asking the time?
# How appropriate is 现在是什么时间? for asking the time?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-11-16)

> [现在是什么时间?](http://youdao.com/w/%E7%8E%B0%E5%9C%A8%E6%98%AF%E4%BB%80%E4%B9%88%E6%97%B6%E9%97%B4)  
> Now is what time?

This seems to be an alternative way of asking for the time in Chinese. (The usual way is 现在几点了?) However, something feels "off" about this question: I can only find it used in two situations, (a) when English is translated into Chinese, and (b) for questions such as:

> [伦敦](http://youdao.com/w/%E4%BC%A6%E6%95%A6)现在是什么时间?  
> What time is it in London? ([link](https://zhidao.baidu.com/question/2121483862679236667.html))

**Question**: How appropriate is 现在是什么时间? for asking the time?

**Tags:** time


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-11-16. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

Both 现在是什么时间 and 现在几点了 mean the same.

现在几点了 is used in casual situations.

现在是什么时间 sounds that the speaker might think there would be something happening shortly or at certain time, so he/she wants to know the time. For example, 现在是什么时间？ 我们该上课了吧？

The effect is subtle. They can be used interchangeably. But 什么时间 does sound the time seems more important.

P.S. 现在是什么时间？ can also mean *What time is it for?* E.g. A: 现在是什么时间？ B: 现在是午饭时间/早操时间/自习时间/etc.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: @YiFan I agree.  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2019-11-17. Score: 1

It's very appropriate to ask time using `现在是什么时间`, even when you talk to someone, however, this sentence has different meaning when you don't end it with a question mark. It can be an accuse for someone who is not aware of the time. For example：`现在是什么时间！你怎么还在这里？` which means you're too late to do something.


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