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時 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
時shítime, season; period, era, agezg, 10 strokes, radical 日, rank #68311, Very Hard
shí(shi2) T2
  1. 1time, season; period, era, age
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

時shí(shi2)

The character '時' (shí) refers to 'time' and can denote various contexts such as seasons, periods, or eras. It is commonly used in phrases related to time management, historical periods, and seasonal changes. Understanding this character is crucial as it is foundational in discussing timelines and schedules in Mandarin.

Strokes10Radical日Frequency#68311DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

'時' is significant in Chinese culture as it relates to the cyclical nature of time, reflecting traditional beliefs in harmony with seasons and natural rhythms, especially in farming and festivals. For instance, the Lunar New Year is celebrated at the turn of the season, marking the passage of time.

Memory Tip

Imagine a clock with the hands pointing at different seasons (spring, summer, autumn, winter) to remember '時' (shí) means time. The top part of the character resembles a sun, representing daytime, while the bottom part suggests a concept of change or transition, linking it to the passing of time.

Meanings of 時

shí(shi2)
1time, season; period, era, age
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 時

時Simplified
10Strokes
日Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 時

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Podcast: 時

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AI Study Notes for 時

Quick Contrast

时 (shí) vs 值 (zhí) — use 时 for general time references, while 值 specifically refers to value or worth in a context.

Usage Notes

In informal contexts, '時' is often used in phrases like '這個時候' (at this time) or '有時' (sometimes). Learners should be cautious with the tones; '時' is pronounced with a rising tone and can be confused with '是' (shì) which means 'to be.' Common collocations include '時光' (time) and '時間' (time).

HSK Study Tips

While '時' is not part of any specific HSK level, it is essential for higher levels as it connects with vocabulary related to time and events. Students should focus on its usage in various contexts and practice combining it with other time-related words.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse '時' with '是' due to their similar sounds; remember '時' relates to time while '是' means 'to be.' Additionally, misuse of tone can lead to misunderstandings, so practice saying '時' with the correct rising tone.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 時

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Etymology of 時

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Simplified form of 時.

Memory Hint

day

Semantic (meaning)日
+
Phonetic (sound)寺
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 時

Simplified form of 時.

  1. 1The meaning half日 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half寺 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayday
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 時? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 時?

Decomposition of 時

IDS Structure⿰日寺
時Full Character
=
日Ri4
left
寺si4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 時?

How to say time, season; period, era, age in Chinese

“time, season; period, era, age” in Chinese is時shí

The character '時' (shí) refers to 'time' and can denote various contexts such as seasons, periods, or eras. It is commonly used in phrases related to time management, historical periods, and seasonal changes. Understanding this character is crucial as it is foundational in discussing timelines and schedules in Mandarin.

When to use 時

In informal contexts, '時' is often used in phrases like '這個時候' (at this time) or '有時' (sometimes). Learners should be cautious with the tones; '時' is pronounced with a rising tone and can be confused with '是' (shì) which means 'to be.' Common collocations include '時光' (time) and '時間' (time).

時 or something close to it

时 (shí) vs 值 (zhí) — use 时 for general time references, while 值 specifically refers to value or worth in a context.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse '時' with '是' due to their similar sounds; remember '時' relates to time while '是' means 'to be.' Additionally, misuse of tone can lead to misunderstandings, so practice saying '時' with the correct rising tone.

Write 時

時

Practice writing 時 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 時

Words Containing This Character20
时候shíhoutime時候
时shítime時
时间shíjiāntime時間
小时xiǎoshíhour小時
同时tóngshíat the same time同時
当时dāngshíthen當時
时代shídàiage時代
那时then那時
有时sometimes有時
时尚shíshàngfashion時尚
有时候sometimes有時候
时刻shíkètime時刻
及时jíshíin time及時
时期shíqīperiod時期
随时suíshíat any time隨時
暂时zànshítemporary暫時
时光shíguāngtime時光
此时cǐshínow此時
这时at this time這時
平时píngshíordinarily平時
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 时候 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 時

'時' is pronounced as 'shí' with a rising tone.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 時?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.