Chinese Conversation · Level 24
90 words
Chinese word
准时
Pronunciation
Pinyinzhǔn shí
Meaning
- adverbon time
Example
火车准时到站。huǒ chē zhǔn shí dào zhàn
The train arrives at the station on time.
More examples
我们要准时参加会议，不要迟到。wǒ men yào zhǔn shí cān jiā huì yì bú yào chí dào
We must attend the meeting on time and not be late.
Core concept
An arrival or event occurs at the exact time set by a plan, schedule, or agreement.
Common phrases
准时出发zhǔn shí chū fā
depart on time
准时参加会议zhǔn shí cān jiā huì yì
attend the meeting on time
准时完成任务zhǔn shí wán chéng rèn wù
complete the task on time
Similar words
按时àn shí: Doing something according to a plan or schedule and without delay.
及时jí shí: Acting soon enough in a needed situation to deal with it in time.
Definition in Chinese
按约定或规定的时间到达或发生，不早也不迟，常用于人、交通工具和活动的到达或开始。àn yuē dìng huò guī dìng de shí jiān dào dá huò fā shēng bù zǎo yě bù chí cháng yòng yú rén jiāo tōng gōng jù hé huó dòng de dào dá huò kāi shǐ
Word origin
准时 (zhǔnshí, "on time") joins 准 (zhǔn, "exact or in accordance with a standard") with 时 (shí, "time"), so its meaning centers on exact agreement with the scheduled time.
Usage tips
- This is a useful everyday word for trains, people, classes, and meetings because it describes punctual arrival or starting, not just the completion of a piece of work.
Other meanings
- not lateadverb