किस समय (kis samay)
adverb
A question phrase meaning 'at what time' -- combines the oblique interrogative किस (kis, 'which/what') with समय (samay, 'time'). One sense only.
Sense
1
:
at what time
adverb Functions as an adverbial question phrase, placed where the time expression would go in the answer sentence, e.g. आप किस समय आएँगे (aap kis samay aaenge, 'At what time will you come?').
Synonyms: कब (kab, simpler and more common)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: Think of किस समय (kis samay) as the more pointed cousin of कब (kab) -- you would use it when you actually want a clock time, like asking a train conductor or a doctor's receptionist किस समय ट्रेन आएगी (kis samay tren aaegii, 'At what time will the train arrive?'), whereas कब (kab) covers everything from 'what time' to 'what day' to 'someday'.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for किस समय (kis samay) by default when कब (kab) alone is what a native speaker would actually say in casual conversation -- किस समय (kis samay) sounds a touch more formal or precise, like asking for an exact clock time rather than just 'when'. 2) Because किस (kis) is the oblique form of क्या (kyaa), learners sometimes mistakenly try क्या समय (kyaa samay), which is not idiomatic.
Sample Sentences:
डॉक्टर साहब किस समय क्लिनिक आते हैं?
At what time does the doctor come to the clinic?
(doktar saahab kis samay klinik aate hain?)
Listen: M85
बैठक किस समय शुरू हुई थी?
At what time had the meeting started?
(baithak kis samay shuroo huii thii?)
Listen: F85
मुझे बताओ कि दवा किस समय ली जाती है।
Tell me at what time the medicine is taken.
(mujhe bataao ki davaa kis samay lii jaatii hai।)
Listen: F85
अगर वह किस समय पहुंचेगा, यह पता चल जाए तो अच्छा होगा।
It would be good if we could find out at what time he will arrive.
(agar vah kis samay pahunchegaa, yah pataa chal jaae to achchhaa hogaa।)
Listen: M85
कृपया बताइए कि परीक्षा किस समय होगी।
Please tell me at what time the exam will be held.
(kripyaa bataaie ki pariikshaa kis samay hogii।)
Listen: F85
यह तो पता ही नहीं चला कि हादसा किस समय हुआ।
It was never even known at what time the accident happened.
(yah to pataa hii nahiin chalaa ki haadsaa kis samay huaa।)
Listen: F85
यदि मुझे मालूम होता कि सभा किस समय शुरू होगी, तो मैं समय पर पहुंच जाता।
If I had known at what time the assembly would start, I would have arrived on time.
(yadi mujhe maaloom hotaa ki sabhaa kis samay shuroo hogii, to main samay par pahunch jaataa।)
Listen: M85