The concept of time in Chinese
Time in Chinese is considered from two points of view: as a period of time and as a point in time (a moment).
That’s why the words in Chinese that express time are translated in the same way but used in different contexts.
时间 and 时候
The words 时间 
and 时候 have the same meaning "time", but they are used differently.
时间 describes a period of time. It expresses the concept of time as a whole.
and 时候 have the same meaning "time", but they are used differently.
时间 describes a period of time. It expresses the concept of time as a whole.Examples
时间过得真快
Time flies fast
shíjiān guò de zhēn kuài
他问了我时间
He asked me, “what time is it?”
tā wèn le wǒ shíjiān
In order to ask the question “how much time?” or “how long”, we use this structure 多长时间？
Pay attention
The literal meaning is "How long is time?".
Examples
你结婚多长时间了？
How long have you been married?
nǐ jiéhūn duōcháng shíjiān le
时候 indicates a certain point in time.
Examples
现在不是胆怯的时候
This is no time to be shy
xiànzài bú shì dǎnqiè de shíhòu
时候 is often used in collocations.
In order to say “during”, use the structure …的时候 .
The ellipsis is replaced with an action.
.
The ellipsis is replaced with an action.Examples
我回来的时候妈妈还在工作
Mom was still working when I came back
wǒ huílái de shíhòu māma hái zài gōngzuò
In order to ask the question “what time?”, “when?”, use the structure 什么时候？
Examples
那家银行什么时候关门？
When does this bank close?
nà jiā yínháng shénme shíhòu guānmén
时候 can also have the meaning "in time".
Examples
你来得正是时候
You came just in time
nǐ lái de zhèng shì shíhòu
点 and 小时
The words 点 and 小时 have the same meaning "hour", "hours".
点 is used only to talk about the time of day.
and 小时 have the same meaning "hour", "hours".
点 is used only to talk about the time of day.Examples
她的兼职时间是十点到两点
Her part-time job is from ten to two o’clock
tā de jiānzhí shíjiān shì shí diǎn dào liǎng diǎn
比赛四点才开始
The competition starts at four o’clock
bǐsài sì diǎn cái kāishǐ
小时 is a period of time consisting of 60 minutes.
Pay attention
In order to indicate the number of hours, the classifier 个 must be placed between a numeral and the word 小时.
must be placed between a numeral and the word 小时.Examples
我今天学习了汉语两个小时
I have been studying Chinese for two hours
wǒ jīntiān xuéxí le hànyǔ liǎng ge xiǎoshí
冷雨下了几个小时
There was cold rain for hours
lěng yǔ xià le jǐ ge xiǎoshí
分 and 分钟
分 and 分钟 have the same meaning “a minute”.
Both words can be used to talk about the time of day.
and 分钟 have the same meaning “a minute”.
Both words can be used to talk about the time of day.Examples
现在8点5分钟
It’s five past eight
xiànzài bā diǎn wǔ fēnzhōng
我6点20分就到家了
I was home by twenty past six
wǒ liù diǎn èrshí fèn jiù dào jiā le
However, we can use only 分钟 to talk about a period of time.
Examples
我们等了15分钟
We have been waiting for fifteen minutes
wǒmen děng le shíwǔ fēnzhōng
她只花了20分钟就赢了
It only took her twenty minutes to win
tā zhǐ huā le èrshí fēnzhōng jiù yíng le