o'clock

IPA/əˈklɒk/
KK[əklˈɑk]IPA/əˈklɑːk/

o'clock — adverb

1. added after an hour number to show that the clock is on the whole hour, with no

1.副詞A1
釋義

added after an hour number to show that the clock is on the whole hour, with no minutes before or after it

例句

Maeve looked up at the station clock and saw it was three o'clock.

exact hour after a number

The school bell rings at eight o'clock every weekday morning.

at + number + o'clock

文法句型

at + number + o'clock

number + o'clock sharp

用法筆記

Usually follows a number and often appears after at. Use it only for exact hours; if minutes are included, speakers say the full time without o'clock.

常見錯誤

❌The meeting starts at three o'clock thirty.
✅The meeting starts at three thirty.
💡o'clock is only used for exact hours, not times with extra minutes.
❌I will arrive three o'clock.
✅I will arrive at three o'clock.
💡this expression normally follows a preposition such as at when giving the time of an event.

2. used with a number to mean the part of the day when something usually happens, e

2.副詞A2
釋義

used with a number to mean the part of the day when something usually happens, especially a meal or another regular activity

例句

At our house, six o'clock is usually dinner time for the children.

number + o'clock as a routine part of the day

For Yuna, five o'clock means the cafe starts its evening rush.

means + usual event

文法句型

number + o'clock is + activity time

number + o'clock means + usual event

用法筆記

Often appears when a family, workplace, or group treats a certain hour as the normal time for one activity. Distinguish it from sense 1, which points to an exact clock reading rather than a routine slot.

常見錯誤

❌Six o'clock is my dinner exactly every night.
✅Six o'clock is dinner time at my house.
💡this sense names a usual part of the day, not perfect punctuality.