Chinese word

此时

Pronunciation

Pinyincǐ shí

Meaning

  • adverbat this time

Example

此时他还在睡觉。cǐ shí tā hái zài shuì jiào

At this time, he is still sleeping.

Illustration for 此时 (at this time)

More examples

他回头一看，此时门已经关上了。tā huí tóu yí kàn cǐ shí mén yǐ jīng guān shàng le

When he looked back, the door was already closed by then.

Core concept

A pointer that fixes attention on one particular moment in a story, explanation, or situation.

Common phrases

  • 此时此刻cǐ shí cǐ kè

    at this very moment

  • 此时正是cǐ shí zhèng shì

    exactly at this time

Similar words

现在xiàn zài: Refers to the present time, especially around the moment of speaking.
这时zhè shí: Points to the time of a particular event or scene.
此刻cǐ kè: Emphasizes the exact moment when something happens.
当时dāng shí: Refers to the time when a past event took place.

Definition in Chinese

指说话或叙述中所指的这个时间点，作副词使用，通常放在动词前或句首。zhǐ shuō huà huò xù shù zhōng suó zhǐ de zhè ge shí jiān diǎn zuò fù cí shǐ yòng tōng cháng fàng zài dòng cí qián huò jù shǒu

Word origin

此 (cǐ, "this") + 时 (shí, "time") forms a transparent expression for the time currently under discussion.

Usage tips

  • Although its meaning is clear in everyday Chinese, 此时 (cǐshí, "at this time") has a written, report-like, or narrative tone, so casual speech often favors more ordinary time wording.

Other meanings

  • at this momentadverb
  • at this pointadverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word