Using Numbers with Time Measures

We have just learned numbers in our previous lesson. Now let's take a look at how we use them. In most instances, numbers are employed with classifiers, but before we learn that, let's look at the use of numbers without any classifiers.

In this lesson, we learn a few time measures or durations that are used with numbers:

second: miau4
minute: hoon3ceng1
hour: tiam1ceng1
day: jit1
night: meh2
week: leh1pai3
month: guek3jit1 , guek1 year: ni2

You may use the above time measures without any classifiers. Be sure to sandhi the number when you place them in front of the time measure.

cit3-pak1 miau4
one hundred seconds

gor33 hoon3ceng1
five minutes

nor33 tiam1ceng1
two hours

lark3 jit1
six days

chit1 meh2
seven nights

cit3 leh1pai3
one week

see1 guek3jit1
four months

jee33-cap3 ni2
twenty years

In addition to the above, there is a time measure that is the exception to the rule which you need to learn. I call it a "pseudo classifier", and that's "-leh3 ji33". (That's the general classifier with the word ji33.) It is used for blocks of five minutes, and is commonly employed when expressing time.

cit3-leh3 ji33
one block of five minutes

nor33-leh3 ji33
two blocks of five minutes (hence, the minutes)

gor33-leh3 ji33
five blocks of five minutes (hence, 25 minutes)

The word for "half" is pnua3 . You can use it with time measures too. Be sure to sandhi it when you place it in front of the time measure.

pnua1 tiam1ceng1
half an hour

pnua1 guek3jit1
half a month

pnua1 ni2
half a year

To ask questions related to time measures, such as "how long", you say "kui4" . Like numbers, it sandhis when placed in front of the time measure.

Kui1 miau4?
How many seconds?

Kui1 hoon3ceng1?
How many minutes?

Kui1-leh3 ji33? How many "blocks of 5" minutes?

Kui1 jit1?
How many days?

Kui1 guek3jit1
How many months?

Kui1 ni2?
How many years?

(You may also add a classifier to it, making "kui1-ko1 guek1" , which also means "how many months", but I'll keep things simple by teaching you a set that you can use without complicating things.)

If you want to ask "how long", without specifying whether seconds, minutes or anything, the term is "cor3 ku4?"

Therefore:
Question: Cor3 ku4?
Answer: Snar3-leh3 ji33 (15 minutes)

Question: Cor3 ku4?
Answer: Cit3 tiam1ceng1 (An hour)

Question: Cor3 ku4?
Answer: Lark3 jit1 (6 days)

Question: Cor3 ku4?
Answer: Cap3 ni2 (10 years)

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