Chinese word

暂时

Pronunciation

Pinyinzàn shí

Meaning

  • adverbfor now

Example

请暂时等我一下。qǐng zàn shí děng wǒ yí xià

Please wait for me for a little while.

Illustration for 暂时 (for now)

More examples

我们暂时先不讨论这个问题。wǒ men zàn shí xiān bù tǎo lùn zhè ge wèn tí

We will not discuss this issue for now.

Core concept

A brief time span for a state or action that is not meant to continue indefinitely.

Common phrases

  • 暂时搁置zàn shí gē zhì

    put aside for now

  • 暂时保留zàn shí bǎo liú

    keep on hold for now

  • 暂时休息zàn shí xiū xī

    take a break for now

Similar words

目前mù qián: At present, describing the situation or state that exists now.
临时lín shí: For temporary use or action on a particular occasion.
一时yì shí: Briefly, describing something that happens or lasts for a short time.

Definition in Chinese

用于表示某个状态或动作在一段短时间内持续或暂时发生，不表示长期或永久性，常与动词连用。yòng yú biǎo shì mǒu gè zhuàng tài huò dòng zuò zài yí duàn duǎn shí jiān nèi chí xù huò zàn shí fā shēng bù biǎo shì cháng qī huò yóng jiǔ xìng cháng yǔ dòng cí lián yòng

Word origin

暂 (zàn, "temporary") + 时 (shí, "time") forms a time word for a state or action limited to the present period.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, 暂时 (zànshí, "for now") often comes before a negative expression, making a refusal sound limited to the present rather than final.

Other meanings

  • temporarilyadverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 暂缓zàn huǎnput off temporarilyverb

Word lists with this word