HSK · Level 51
105 words
Chinese word
时而
Pronunciation
Pinyinshí ér
Meaning
- adverbsometimes
Example
他时而笑，时而又皱眉。tā shí ér xiào shí ér yòu zhòu méi
Sometimes he smiles, and at other times he frowns.
More examples
河面时而平静，时而又起波纹。hé miàn shí ér píng jìng shí ér yòu qǐ bō wén
The river's surface is sometimes calm, and at other times ripples form.
Core concept
A scene in which one state appears, disappears, and returns at changing times.
Common phrases
时而沉默不语shí ér chén mò bù yǔ
sometimes remain silent
时而平静shí ér píng jìng
sometimes be calm
Similar words
不时bù shí: Describes something occurring repeatedly with short breaks between occurrences.
有时yǒu shí: Describes something that happens sometimes and does not happen at other times.
偶尔óu ěr: Describes something that happens once in a while.
Definition in Chinese
表示某事在不同时间间隔里偶尔发生，有时发生有时不发生，常用于描写变化或交替的情况。biǎo shì mǒu shì zài bù tóng shí jiān jiàn gé lǐ óu ěr fā shēng yǒu shí fā shēng yǒu shí bù fā shēng cháng yòng yú miáo xiě biàn huà huò jiāo tì de qíng kuàng
Word origin
时而 (shíér, "sometimes") combines 时 (shí, "time") with 而 (ér, "and/then") to connect what happens at one time with what happens at another.
Usage tips
- It commonly comes before a verb or adjective in a changing description, so it presents a pattern across a scene rather than a single event.
Other meanings
- occasionallyadverb
Opposites
- 始终shǐ zhōngalwaysadverb