shí

o'clock

HSK 2

Character Breakdown

Understanding '' (shí)

The character '' primarily means 'time' or 'moment' and is often used to refer to specific points or periods in time. It can function as a noun meaning 'time' or 'season,' and also appears in compound words related to time.

Common Uses

  1. As a noun indicating a point in time:
  2. Referring to a specific moment or period:
    • Example: 那个时候 (nàge shíhòu) means 'at that time.'
  3. In expressions about the passage of time:
    • Example: 时间 (shíjiān) means 'time' in a general sense.

Collocations and Patterns

Usage Notes

'' is often combined with other characters to form time-related words. It is important not to confuse '' with '' (shì), which means 'to be.' When used alone, '' usually appears in temporal contexts rather than as a standalone noun in casual speech.

Common Confusion

Learners sometimes confuse '' with '' (shì, meaning 'matter' or 'thing'). Remember that '' relates to time, while '' relates to events or affairs.

Example Sentences

你什么时候有空?

Nǐ shénme shíhòu yǒu kòng?

When do you have free time?

那个时候我还在学校。

Nàge shíhòu wǒ hái zài xuéxiào.

At that time, I was still at school.

时间过得真快。

Shíjiān guò de zhēn kuài.

Time passes really fast.