कितने बजे हैं?

You can use this phrase on its own. Just walk up to someone and say it with a questioning tone. If you want to be more specific, you can add words like abhi which means 'now'. For example, Abhi kitne baje hain? translates to 'What time is it right now?'. It works perfectly in almost every setting.

Use it when you are running late for a movie. Use it when you are waiting for a friend at a cafe. It is perfect for checking the schedule at a train station. You can even use it to wake someone up who has overslept. It is a functional phrase for survival in any Hindi-speaking city.

Do not use this if you are asking about a future event. For a future meeting, you should ask Kab? which means 'When?'. For example, don't say Kitne baje hain? for a wedding tomorrow. That would sound like you think the wedding is happening right this second. Also, avoid using it if you already see a giant clock behind the person. It might make you look a bit distracted!

In India, time can be a flexible concept often joked about as 'Indian Standard Time'. However, asking for the time is a great way to start a conversation. People are generally very helpful and will often show you their watch. In rural areas, people might still refer to the position of the sun. But in the city, everyone relies on their smartphones.

In very casual settings, people often drop the hain at the end. They just say Kitne baje?. If you want to be very polite to an elder, add Aapki ghadi mein at the start. This means 'In your watch, what time is it?'. It sounds very respectful and classic. You might also hear Kya samay hua hai? which is a more formal, textbook version.