时 Stroke Order — How to Write 时
时 is written in 7 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 日, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
时 Radical and Character Components
day.
Radical: 日 + 3 more strokes
时 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- shí
Meanings of 时 in Chinese
1
shí时
A period or duration during which events happen or a state exists; time or a moment.
在关键时刻，他总是能保持冷静。
At critical moments, he can always remain calm.
A longer period of time; an era or epoch.
古时的建筑往往充满独特的韵味。
Ancient buildings often possess a unique charm.
Refers to a period of time; time, season, or moment.
美好的时光总是过得很快。
Good times always pass quickly.
Current; present; at the moment.
时下年轻人喜欢用手机支付。
Currently, young people prefer using mobile payments.
Frequently; often; from time to time.
我时常来这家书店看书。
I often come to this bookstore to read books.
A season of the year; a period of time, often referring to one of the four seasons.
这个地方四时如春，花儿常开
This place is like spring all year round, with flowers always blooming.
An ancient unit of time; one 'shichen' (时辰) is one-twelfth of a day-night cycle. For example, 'zishi' (子时) is from 11 PM to 1 AM the next day, and 'wushi' (午时) is from 11 AM to 1 PM.
古代计时，一个时辰相当于今天的两小时。
In ancient timekeeping, one 'shichen' was equivalent to two hours today.
An hour; a unit of time equal to 60 minutes or one twenty-fourth of a day.
请问现在是几时了？
Excuse me, what time is it now?
on time; at a scheduled time
请大家按时提交作业。
Please submit your homework on time.
Sometimes; at times; indicating an irregular or alternating state or condition.
春天的时候，天气时暖时寒
In spring, the weather is sometimes warm and sometimes cold.
Opportunity; occasion; timing.
我们应该把握时机，尝试新的可能性。
We should seize the opportunity to try new possibilities.
Common Words and Phrases with 时
1
famous people of the time
他是一位深受时辈尊敬的艺术家。
He is an artist deeply respected by prominent figures of his era.
2
social ills or malpractices prevalent at a particular time
他常常在文章中探讨一些时弊，希望引起人们的关注。
He often discusses some current social problems in his articles, hoping to attract people's attention.
3
Seize the opportune moment; don't let a good chance slip away.
这次项目招标是公司发展的重要机遇，大家要精诚合作，时不可失，争取一举成功。
This project bidding is a crucial opportunity for the company's development. Everyone must cooperate sincerely, seize the opportune moment, and strive for success in one go.
4
5
Time waits for no one; seize the moment.
青春短暂，时不我待，我们应该好好学习，充实自己。
Youth is short, and time waits for no one. We should study diligently and enrich ourselves.
6
Time difference, especially between different time zones.
长途飞行后，我总是需要几天时间来适应时差。
After a long-haul flight, I always need a few days to adjust to the time difference.
7
8
one of the twelve two-hour periods in the traditional Chinese calendar, each named after one of the Earthly Branches.
依照老黄历，这个时辰是安床的最佳吉日。
According to the old almanac, this hour is the most auspicious time to set up the bed.
9
An era, age, or period in history, often characterized by specific economic, political, or cultural conditions; it can also refer to a period in one's life.
这是一个科技飞速发展的时代。
This is an era of rapid technological advancement.
10
At times, sometimes, or by turns; indicating something happens occasionally or different states alternate.
天气真是多变，时而晴朗，时而下雨。
The weather is truly unpredictable; sometimes it's sunny, and then it rains.
11
unfavorable times and adverse fate; with fate adverse and circumstance unfavorable
尽管他能力出众，却时乖命蹇，错失了多次晋升良机。
Although he was exceptionally capable, he was ill-fated and unlucky, missing several excellent opportunities for promotion.
12
13
Circumstances change with the passage of time.
很多老朋友多年未见，如今时过境迁，大家都有了各自新的生活和感悟。
Many old friends haven't seen each other for years; now, as time has passed and circumstances have changed, everyone has their own new lives and insights.
14
time; moment; a period of time
下雨的时候，出门记得带伞。
When it rains, remember to bring an umbrella when you go out.
15
sometimes; occasionally
他时或会去公园散步，享受片刻的宁静。
He sometimes goes for a walk in the park, enjoying a moment of tranquility.
16
opportunity; an opportune moment or occasion
投资成功关键在于把握好入市的时机。
The key to successful investment lies in seizing the right moment to enter the market.
More words with 时
- àn按shí时on time
- dùn顿shí时immediately; at once; suddenly
- ér儿shí时childhood
- zàn暂shí时Temporarily, for a short period.
- zhǔn准shí时punctual; on time
- bǐ彼shí时that time
- jiè届shí时at that time; when the time comes
- xū戌shí时7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Xushi
- yǒu酉shí时the period from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- chén辰shí时7 a.m. to 9 a.m., The Hour of the Dragon
- chǒu丑shí时the period from 1 to 3 a.m.
- fèi费shí时Time-consuming
- jí吉shí时auspicious time
- kè课shí时Class hour, Period
- mǒu某shí时sometime
- piàn片shí时a moment
- shà霎shí时in a split second; in a twinkling
- shēn申shí时the hour of Shen (3 to 5 p.m.), 3 to 5 p.m.
- shì适shí时timely; at the appropriate time
- shòu授shí时Time service, Time dissemination
Idioms with 时
- shí时bù不kě可féng逢a rare opportunity not easily encountered
- shí时bù不zài再lái来Time and opportunity wait for no one
- shí时duàn断shí时xù续intermittent; off and on
- shí时hé和nián年fēng丰peaceful times and bountiful harvests
- shí时lái来yùn运zhuǎn转luck turns for the better
- shí时shí时kè刻kè刻at every moment
- shí时wàng望suǒ所guī归where public admiration converges
- shí时yí移shì势qiān迁times change, circumstances shift
- shí时yí移shì势yì易Times change, situations evolve
- shí时yí移sú俗yì易times change, customs change
- shí时yǐn隐shí时jiàn见appearing and disappearing intermittently
- shí时yǐn隐shí时xiàn现appearing and disappearing intermittently
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Open the tool →Questions about 时
What does 时 mean in Chinese?
时 (shí) means “A longer period of time” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 时?
时 is pronounced shí in Mandarin Chinese.
How many strokes does 时 have?
时 has 7 strokes.
How do you write 时?
时 is written in 7 strokes, starting from the radical 日. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 时?
The radical of 时 is 日, and 时 is a phono-semantic compound.