dire l' heure
to dire the hour
字面意思: to say the hour
Use this phrase to describe the act of stating the time or reading a clock.
15秒了解
- Means to tell or announce the time from a clock.
- Uses the verb 'dire' conjugated with the noun 'l'heure'.
- Common in educational, professional, and everyday social settings.
意思
This phrase simply means 'to tell the time.' You use it when you are reading a clock or informing someone of the current hour.
关键例句
3 / 6Talking about a child's progress
Mon fils apprend enfin à dire l'heure.
My son is finally learning to tell the time.
Asking a stranger in the street
Pardon, pourriez-vous me dire l'heure ?
Excuse me, could you tell me the time?
Texting a friend about a meeting
Dis-moi l'heure quand tu seras prêt.
Tell me the time when you are ready.
文化背景
France officially uses the 24-hour clock (military time) for all public transport and formal events. While 'dire l'heure' is a basic skill, mastering the transition between the 24-hour formal system and the 12-hour casual system is a key part of French cultural fluency.
The 24-Hour Secret
If you want to sound like a local, use the 24-hour clock for appointments. Say 'dix-sept heures' instead of 'cinq heures' for 5 PM.
Don't confuse with 'Passer'
Never use 'dire l'heure' to mean you are spending time at the beach. That is always 'passer du temps'.
15秒了解
- Means to tell or announce the time from a clock.
- Uses the verb 'dire' conjugated with the noun 'l'heure'.
- Common in educational, professional, and everyday social settings.
What It Means
Dire l'heure is one of those essential building blocks in French. It refers to the act of stating what time it is. Think of a child looking at a big wooden clock. They are learning to dire l'heure. It is a literal and functional expression. You are not just talking; you are providing specific information about the day's progress. It is simple, direct, and incredibly useful.
How To Use It
You use the verb dire (to say/tell) followed by l'heure. You must conjugate dire based on who is speaking. For example, je dis l'heure or nous disons l'heure. It is a transitive phrase, so it usually takes a direct object or stands as a concept. You will often see it in the infinitive when talking about the skill itself. It is a very stable phrase that does not change much.
When To Use It
Use this phrase when discussing the ability to read a clock. It is perfect for educational settings. You can also use it when someone asks for the time on the street. If you are in a meeting and someone asks for a time check, this is your phrase. It works at the doctor's office or at a dinner party. It is a universal tool for daily life. Even when texting a friend about a meeting, it fits right in.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this to mean 'spending time.' For that, you need passer du temps. Do not use it to say 'it is time to go.' In that case, you would say il est l'heure. It specifically describes the verbal act of announcing the time. It is not about the duration of an event. Also, avoid using it for 'telling a story.' That would be raconter une histoire. Keep it strictly to clocks and watches.
Cultural Background
In France, time is handled with a mix of precision and leisure. For official schedules, the French use the 24-hour clock. You will hear dix-huit heures for 6 PM. However, in casual conversation, dire l'heure often involves the 12-hour clock. Learning to dire l'heure is a major milestone for French children. It is often taught alongside the concept of the 'goûter' (afternoon snack). The French take their schedules seriously, especially for meals and shop hours.
Common Variations
You will frequently hear donner l'heure. This is almost identical but feels a bit more like a favor. Demander l'heure is what you do when you forget your watch. If a clock is broken, a Frenchman might say it ne donne plus l'heure. Another variation is lire l'heure, which means 'to read the time.' All of these revolve around the same basic human need to stay on schedule.
使用说明
This is a neutral, everyday collocation. It is grammatically simple but culturally vital due to the French use of the 24-hour clock system in formal contexts.
The 24-Hour Secret
If you want to sound like a local, use the 24-hour clock for appointments. Say 'dix-sept heures' instead of 'cinq heures' for 5 PM.
Don't confuse with 'Passer'
Never use 'dire l'heure' to mean you are spending time at the beach. That is always 'passer du temps'.
Donner vs Dire
While 'dire l'heure' is common, 'donner l'heure' is often used when asking someone for the time as a favor.
例句
6Mon fils apprend enfin à dire l'heure.
My son is finally learning to tell the time.
Refers to the educational milestone of reading a clock.
Pardon, pourriez-vous me dire l'heure ?
Excuse me, could you tell me the time?
A very polite and standard way to ask for the time.
Dis-moi l'heure quand tu seras prêt.
Tell me the time when you are ready.
Using the imperative 'dis-moi' for a casual request.
Ma montre est cassée, elle ne dit plus l'heure.
My watch is broken; it doesn't tell the time anymore.
Personifying the watch as if it speaks the time.
Il est important de dire l'heure exacte du début.
It is important to state the exact start time.
Focuses on precision in a professional context.
Le vieux clocher continue de dire l'heure au village.
The old bell tower continues to tell the time to the village.
A more atmospheric, descriptive use of the phrase.
自我测试
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'dire'.
Est-ce que tu peux me ___ l'heure ?
After 'peux' (can), we use the infinitive form 'dire'.
Choose the correct noun to complete the phrase.
L'horloge ___ l'heure.
The standard collocation for telling time is 'dire l'heure'.
🎉 得分： /2
视觉学习工具
Formality of 'Dire l'heure'
Asking a friend for the time quickly.
Dis-moi l'heure !
Standard way to discuss telling time.
Il sait dire l'heure.
Polite request to a stranger or superior.
Veuillez me dire l'heure.
Where to use 'Dire l'heure'
At School
Learning the clock
On the Street
Asking a passerby
At Home
Checking the kitchen clock
At Work
Confirming a meeting start
常见问题
10 个问题Yes, they are very similar. Donner l'heure is often used when you ask someone for the time, like Pouvez-vous me donner l'heure ?
Absolutely. Whether it is an analog clock or a digital phone screen, the phrase dire l'heure applies.
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss, your teacher, or your best friend without any issues.
You usually don't use the phrase itself to ask. You say Quelle heure est-il ? or Vous avez l'heure ? instead.
No, raconter is for stories. Stick to dire or donner for the time.
You would say Je n'ai pas l'heure or Je n'ai pas de montre.
Yes, especially for official times. If it's 2:30 PM, you might say Il est quatorze heures trente.
Yes, it is common to say L'horloge dit qu'il est midi (The clock says it is noon).
The biggest mistake is using it to mean 'it's time to do something.' Use il est l'heure de... for that.
Yes, it can be used poetically to describe the passage of time or a clock chiming in a story.
相关表达
donner l'heure
demander l'heure
il est l'heure
quelle heure est-il ?
remettre les pendules à l'heure
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