What does a quarter to mean in time?
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Noah Thompson
Works at Amazon, Lives in Seattle, WA
As a domain expert in timekeeping and temporal concepts, I'm often asked to clarify the nuances of how we describe time. When someone refers to a "quarter to" a certain time, they are using a colloquial expression that relates to the minutes past an hour on a clock face. This term is particularly common in English-speaking countries and is used to denote a specific interval of time. Let's delve into the details of what "quarter to" means and how it's applied in everyday language.
**Step 1: Understanding "Quarter to" in English**
The phrase "quarter to" is used to indicate that there are 15 minutes remaining until the next hour. It's a way of saying that the current time is 15 minutes before the top of the hour. For instance, if someone says "it's quarter to three," they mean that the current time is 2:45. In a 12-hour clock system, this would be read as 2:45 PM or 2:45 AM, depending on whether it's before or after noon.
This terminology is derived from the way a clock face is divided into quarters. Each hour on the clock is represented by 60 minutes, and dividing that by four gives you 15 minutes. Hence, the first quarter of an hour is the first 15 minutes, the second quarter is the next 15 minutes, and so on, until you reach the full hour.
**Step 2: The Clock Face and "Quarter to"**
To visualize this, imagine a traditional clock face. The minute hand moves from one number to the next every 5 minutes. When the minute hand is on the 3 (representing 15 minutes past the hour), it's a quarter past the hour. Conversely, when you're counting down to the next hour, the minute hand at the 9 (which is 45 minutes past the hour) signifies a quarter to the next hour.
Step 3: Usage in Daily Conversations
In everyday speech, "quarter to" is a convenient shorthand. It's particularly useful for quickly communicating the time without having to specify the exact minutes. For example, if you're running late for an appointment, you might say, "I'll be there in quarter to an hour," meaning you'll arrive in 15 minutes.
Step 4: Other Time Intervals
While "quarter to" refers to 15 minutes before the hour, there are other similar expressions for different intervals:
- Quarter past: Indicates 15 minutes after the hour (e.g., 1:15 is a quarter past one).
- Half past: Indicates 30 minutes after the hour (e.g., 2:30 is half past two).
- Three quarters past: Indicates 45 minutes after the hour (e.g., 3:45 is three quarters past three).
Step 5: Cultural Variations
It's important to note that the use of "quarter to" and similar terms can vary by region. While it's widely understood in many English-speaking countries, in others, people might simply say "15 minutes to [next hour]" or use a different local expression.
Step 6: Conclusion
Understanding how to use and interpret "quarter to" and related terms is a fundamental aspect of communicating about time. It's a practical skill that can help avoid confusion and ensure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to scheduling and time management.
Now, let's proceed to the translation of the above explanation into Chinese.
**Step 1: Understanding "Quarter to" in English**
The phrase "quarter to" is used to indicate that there are 15 minutes remaining until the next hour. It's a way of saying that the current time is 15 minutes before the top of the hour. For instance, if someone says "it's quarter to three," they mean that the current time is 2:45. In a 12-hour clock system, this would be read as 2:45 PM or 2:45 AM, depending on whether it's before or after noon.
This terminology is derived from the way a clock face is divided into quarters. Each hour on the clock is represented by 60 minutes, and dividing that by four gives you 15 minutes. Hence, the first quarter of an hour is the first 15 minutes, the second quarter is the next 15 minutes, and so on, until you reach the full hour.
**Step 2: The Clock Face and "Quarter to"**
To visualize this, imagine a traditional clock face. The minute hand moves from one number to the next every 5 minutes. When the minute hand is on the 3 (representing 15 minutes past the hour), it's a quarter past the hour. Conversely, when you're counting down to the next hour, the minute hand at the 9 (which is 45 minutes past the hour) signifies a quarter to the next hour.
Step 3: Usage in Daily Conversations
In everyday speech, "quarter to" is a convenient shorthand. It's particularly useful for quickly communicating the time without having to specify the exact minutes. For example, if you're running late for an appointment, you might say, "I'll be there in quarter to an hour," meaning you'll arrive in 15 minutes.
Step 4: Other Time Intervals
While "quarter to" refers to 15 minutes before the hour, there are other similar expressions for different intervals:
- Quarter past: Indicates 15 minutes after the hour (e.g., 1:15 is a quarter past one).
- Half past: Indicates 30 minutes after the hour (e.g., 2:30 is half past two).
- Three quarters past: Indicates 45 minutes after the hour (e.g., 3:45 is three quarters past three).
Step 5: Cultural Variations
It's important to note that the use of "quarter to" and similar terms can vary by region. While it's widely understood in many English-speaking countries, in others, people might simply say "15 minutes to [next hour]" or use a different local expression.
Step 6: Conclusion
Understanding how to use and interpret "quarter to" and related terms is a fundamental aspect of communicating about time. It's a practical skill that can help avoid confusion and ensure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to scheduling and time management.
Now, let's proceed to the translation of the above explanation into Chinese.
2024-05-13 01:51:13
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Works at Amazon, Lives in Tokyo. Holds a degree in Business Administration from University of California, Berkeley.
Math and Numbers - Time Clock - Quarter Past. The first clock below is also read as quarter past 1. The clock below that is also read as quarter past 2, etc. On the Hour (K) 15 minutes After the Hour (1) 30 minutes After the Hour (1) 45 minutes After the Hour (1)
2023-06-09 01:56:56
Oliver Mitchell
QuesHub.com delivers expert answers and knowledge to you.
Math and Numbers - Time Clock - Quarter Past. The first clock below is also read as quarter past 1. The clock below that is also read as quarter past 2, etc. On the Hour (K) 15 minutes After the Hour (1) 30 minutes After the Hour (1) 45 minutes After the Hour (1)
