How common it is
刻 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
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Pronunciation focus
Say kè slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
刻 是指时间的四分之一，通常用于表示钟表上的时针移动到下一个数字之间的间隔。
kè shì zhǐ shí jiān de sì fēn yī, tōng cháng yòng yú biǎo示 zhōng bǎo上 上的 shí shí jīng钟表上的 shí shí qí时针移动到 xià yī gè dùshù下一个数字之间的 jiān gé。
刻 refers to a quarter of time, typically used to indicate the interval between the movement of the clock's hour hand to the next number.
Context note
刻 常常出现在时间的讨论中，比如在谈论上课的时间或者安排活动时。
kè cháng chánɡ chū xiàn shí jiān de lùn dǐnɡ zhōng, bǐ rú zài tánlùn kào shàng de shíjiān huò qiě pái áng huó dònɡ shí。
刻 often appears in discussions about time, such as when talking about class times or scheduling activities.
5 examples
现在是九点一刻。
xiàn zài shì jiǔ diǎn yí kè。
It's now nine o'clock and a quarter.
我们可以在十一点刻开始会议。
wǒ men kě yǐ zài shí yī diǎn kè kāi shǐ huì yì。
We can start the meeting at ten o'clock and a quarter.
电影将在八点一刻结束。
diàn yǐng jiāng zài bā diǎn yí kè jié shù。
The movie will end at eight o'clock and a quarter.
他每天早上七点半刻起床。
tā měi tiān zǎo shàng qī diǎn bàn kè qǐ chuáng。
He gets up at seven-thirty and a quarter every morning.
会议通常在九点一刻开始。
huì yì tōng cháng zài jiǔ diǎn yí kè kāi shǐ。
The meeting usually starts at nine o'clock and a quarter.
5 mini stories
妈妈说，九点一刻我们去公园。
mā ma shuō， jiǔ diǎn yí kè wǒ men qù gōng yuán。
Mom said we should go to the park at nine o'clock and a quarter.
爸爸说，十一点刻我们要开始工作。
bà ba shuō， shí yī diǎn kè wǒ men yào kāi shǐ gōng zuò。
Dad said we should start work at ten o'clock and a quarter.
老师说，八点一刻我们开始上课。
lǎo shī shuō， bā diǎn yí kè wǒ men kāi shǐ shàng kè。
The teacher said we should start class at eight o'clock and a quarter.
朋友说，七点半刻我们去图书馆。
péng yǒu shuō， qī diǎn bàn kè wǒ men qù tú shū guǎn。
The friend said we should go to the library at seven-thirty and a quarter.
姐姐说，九点一刻我们一起去吃晚饭。
jiě jie shuō， jiǔ diǎn yí kè wǒ men yì qǐ qù chī wǎn fàn。
The sister said we should go together for dinner at nine o'clock and a quarter.