How do you express time and date in Hindi? Give examples.
In Hindi, expressing time and date involves a combination of numerical values, specific words, and contextual cues. Let's explore how time and date are expressed in Hindi, along with examples:
1. Expressing Time:
In Hindi, time is typically expressed using a 24-hour clock system. The basic structure for expressing time consists of two components: the hour and the minutes.
a) Hour: Hindi uses the numerical values from 1 to 12 to express the hours. To indicate the hour, the word "बजे" (baje) is added, meaning "o'clock."
Example: १ बजे (1 baje) - 1 o'clock
b) Minutes: The minutes are expressed by stating the numerical value followed by the word "मिनट" (minute).
Example: २० मिनट (20 minute) - 20 minutes
To express time to the minute, the hour and minutes are combined, followed by the word "बजकर" (bajkar) to indicate "sharp."
Example: २ बजकर ३० मिनट (2 bajkar 30 minute) - 2:30 sharp
To indicate time as "quarter past," "half past," or "quarter to" the hour, specific words are used:
Example: तीसरे बजे के पंद्रह मिनट (teesre baje ke pandrah minute) - A quarter past three
2. Expressing Date:
In Hindi, dates are expressed using a combination of numerical values, specific words, and sometimes the names of the months.
a) Day: The numerical value representing the day of the month is used.
Example: १५ तारीख (15 tareekh) - 15th of the month
b) Month: The names of the months are used to express the month.
Example: फरवरी (February)
c) Year: The numerical value representing the year is used.
Example: २०२३ (2023)
To express the complete date, the day, month, and year are combined.
Example: १५ फरवरी २०२३ (15 February 2023)
In informal conversations, it is common to use the words "आज" (today), "कल" (tomorrow), or "परसों" (day after tomorrow) instead of specific dates.
Example: आज शनिवार है (Aaj Shanivaar hai) - Today is Saturday
It's important to note that Hindi uses the Indian numbering system, where numerical values are expressed differently from the Western numbering system. For instance, "१" represents one, "२" represents two, and so on.
In conclusion, expressing time and date in Hindi involves a combination of numerical values, specific words, and contextual cues. By understanding the structure and using appropriate terminology, one can effectively communicate time and date in Hindi.