时 (shí) - time & hour

时Tone 2

shí ｜ 7 strokes ｜ radical: 日

上姝

时 · shí

time;

hour;

season;

era;

opportunity;

current;

timely;

often

timehourseason

Usage highlights

timehourseasoneratimelypunctual

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • 空— space, emptiness (time vs space)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • What time is it now?(现在几点?)
  • We should arrive on time (准时).
  • This is a timely reminder (及时的提醒).
  • Ancient times (古代) were very different.

Collocations

  • time(时间)
  • hour(小时)
  • season(季节)
  • era(时代)
  • timely(及时)
  • punctual(准时)

Idioms

  • Time flies like an arrow(光阴似箭)
  • Seize the day, seize the hour(只争朝夕)
  • Timely rain after long drought(久旱逢甘雨)
  • Time and tide wait for no man(时不我待)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese thought, time is cyclical rather than linear, reflected in agricultural and seasonal cycles.
  • The character combines 'sun' (日) and 'unit/measure' (寸), suggesting measuring time by the sun's movement.
  • Important in Confucian thought for emphasizing timeliness and seizing opportunities.

FAQ