When would you use 30分{ぷん} versus 半{はん} for telling time?


I know telling time in English, you can say " **It is 3:30** " or " **It is
half past 3** " and they can be used interchangeably.

When telling the time in Japanese, is this still the case? **Can you use "
_今{いま}は3時{じ}30分{ぷん}です_ " and " _今{いま}は3時{じ}半{はん}です_ " interchangeably?** Or
are there contexts where it is more appropriate to use one over the other?




In most situations, including ordinary business exchanges, they are completely
interchangeable. Maybe 半 is a bit more common in casual conversations simply
because it's easier to pronounce, but saying 30分 is always safe.

30分 is preferred in formal written text and technical contexts where
consistency and clarity is important, but I guess "half past 3" is not used in
such situations, either.




In most situations, including ordinary business exchanges, they are completely
interchangeable. Maybe 半 is a bit more common in casual conversations simply
because it's easier to pronounce, but saying 30分 is always safe.

30分 is preferred in formal written text and technical contexts where
consistency and clarity is important, but I guess "half past 3" is not used in
such situations, either.

