Usage of 有时
The phrase 有时 (yǒushí) means "sometimes" or "occasionally." It is used to describe actions or events that happen from time to time but not regularly or always.
Common Contexts
有时 is often used in daily conversation to express occasional habits, weather changes, or irregular occurrences. It usually appears at the beginning or middle of a sentence.
Collocations and Patterns
- 有时 + verb: to indicate an action happens occasionally (e.g., 有时迟到 - sometimes late)
- 有时 + clause: to describe occasional situations (e.g., 有时天气不好 - sometimes the weather is bad)
Nuances
Using 有时 implies a moderate frequency, less than often but more than rarely. It is neutral in tone and suitable for both spoken and written Chinese.
Common Confusion
Do not confuse 有时 with 有一点 (a little) or 有的 (some). 有时 specifically refers to time frequency, not quantity or degree.