Twenty to ten意思

"Twenty to ten" is a phrase often used in the context of time, and it means 9:40 am or pm, depending on the context. The phrase is derived from the military time format, where "twenty" refers to 20 minutes past the hour, and "ten" refers to the number of the hour (9 in this case).

Here's how the conversion works:

• "Twenty" is 20 minutes past the hour.
• "Ten" is the hour number (9 in this case, because "ten" is the next number after "nine").

So, "twenty to ten" means it is 20 minutes before 10:00 am or pm, which is 9:40 am or pm.

In some countries, especially those that use the 12-hour clock, "twenty to ten" could also be used colloquially to mean 9:40 am or pm without any military time implications. However, in the context of military time or a 24-hour clock, the meaning is clear and universal.