As an expert in timekeeping and the nuances of how we express time in English, I'd like to provide a comprehensive explanation of how we can interpret the phrase "a quarter to 10" and the general rules for reading time in English.
When we say "a quarter to 10," we are referring to the time that is 15 minutes before 10 o'clock. The term "quarter" in this context means one-fourth, and when applied to an hour, it signifies 15 minutes. Therefore, "a quarter to 10" is the same as saying "15 minutes to 10 o'clock." In the 24-hour clock system, this would be 09:45, and in the 12-hour clock system, it would simply be 9:45 AM.
The way we express time in English can be quite flexible and often depends on the context or the speaker's preference. For instance, if it were 1:45, we could say "quarter to two," "one forty-five," or even "fifteen minutes to two." The table you provided gives a good overview of how this system works:
```
Hours and minutes | Time | Say | or Say
-------------------------------------------------
1:45 | 14:45 | Quarter-to-two | One-forty-five
1:50 | 14:50 | Ten-to-two | One-fifty
1:55 | 14:55 | Five-to-two | One-fifty-five
2:00 | 15:00 | Two o'clock |
```
From this table, we can infer that when the minutes are between 1 and 15, we typically say "X minutes past the hour" or "X after the hour." When the minutes are between 16 and 29, we say "X minutes to the next hour." At 30 minutes past the hour, we simply say "half past the hour." When the minutes are between 31 and 44, we use "X minutes to the next hour" again, and at 45 minutes past the hour, we say "quarter to the next hour."
It's also worth noting that the choice between "to" and "past" can be a matter of regional preference. In American English, "quarter to" is more commonly used, while in British English, "quarter past" might be more prevalent.
Now, let's translate this into Chinese.

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Hours and minutesTimeSayor Say1:45Quarter-to-twoOne-forty-five1:50Ten-to-twoOne-fifty1:55Five-to-twoOne-fifty-five2:00Two o'clock9 more rowsread more >>