- 那晚点灯了吗？ - 没有 那人几时来的？
“- Were the lamps lit that night? - No. When did he come?”
THE DIALOGUE REEL
“From a mere shadow, I couldn't make much out.”
- 那 晚点 灯了吗？ - 没有 那人几时来的？
“- Were the lamps lit that night? - No. When did he come?”
Direct spoken expression in this communicative setting.
Investigative dialogues in historical settings frequently drill down into traditional two-hour watch periods (shichen) to establish airtight alibis.
LEARNING CHUNKS & PARTICLES
to light a lamp
Refers literally to lighting oil lamps or candles in pre-modern settings.
what time; when
A somewhat classical or regional spoken alternative to '什么时候'.
Transforms the declarative statement into a standard yes-no question.
VOCABULARY & EXPRESSIONS
Parallel Spoken Cinema Scenes (语义近邻切片)
“[Gu] What time is it already? Why haven't they arrived yet?”
“It's late now. Have you eaten?”
“Why are you so late?”
“What brings you here so late at night?”
“It's so late. Where did you go?”
“Why are you back so late?”