In English, we can say three fifteen, or a quarter past three to express 3:15. In Chinese, you use 刻 (kè) to mean a quarter. You can even use 三刻 to say three quarters (or 45 minutes)!
三点一刻
(sān diǎn yī kè, 3:15)
a quarter past three
九点三刻
(jiǔ diǎn sān kè, 9:45)
three quarters past nine
Of course, you can still say 三点十五分 (sān diǎn shíwǔ fēn) for 3:15 and 九点四十五分 (jiǔ diǎn sìshíwǔ fēn) for 5:45.
To say ten to or a quarter to, use 差十分 (chà shífēn) or 差一刻 (chà yīkè) before or after the hour.
| 6:50 | 七点差十分 qī diǎn chà shífēn ten to seven |
|---|---|
| 8:45 | 九点差一刻 jiú diǎn chà yíkè a quarter to nine |
| 4:45 | 差一刻五点 chà yíkè wǔ diǎn a quarter to five |