彼一时，此一时 — “Circumstances are different now”
彼一时，此一时 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Circumstances are different now”. What was true or applicable at one time is no longer so at another; times have changed. Literally, “That one time, this one time”.
彼一时，此一时 Pronunciation and Pinyin
彼一时，此一时 Character Breakdown
Example Sentence with 彼一时，此一时
Origin and Story of 彼一时，此一时
During the Warring States period, King Kuai of Yan entrusted his political power to Prime Minister Zi Zhi, which led to internal turmoil. The State of Qi took advantage of this chaos to invade Yan and seize its territory.
Mencius strongly advocated for military intervention, urging King Yan to submit to King Qi as a vassal to promote benevolent governance.
However, King Qi was only interested in the land and wealth of Yan. Mencius's student, Chong Yu, was very dissatisfied.
Mencius sighed and remarked, "That was one time, and this is another."
Idioms Related to 彼一时，此一时
Synonyms of 彼一时，此一时
More idioms starting with 彼
- bǐ彼yì亦yī一shì是fēi非，，cǐ此yì亦yī一shì是fēi非Right and wrong are relative
- bǐ彼zhòng众wǒ我guǎ寡heavily outnumbered
- bǐ彼hé何rén人sī斯Who is that person?
- bǐ彼chàng倡cǐ此hé和one proposes, another echoes
- bǐ彼zāi哉bǐ彼zāi哉Who is that person, really?
- bǐ彼chàng唱cǐ此hé和one sings, the other echoes
- bǐ彼qì弃wǒ我qǔ取embrace what others reject
- bǐ彼cǐ此yī一yàng样exactly alike
- bǐ彼cǐ此bǐ彼cǐ此the same to you; likewise
- bǐ彼jié竭wǒ我yíng盈strike when enemy is weak, we are strong
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Open the tool →Questions about 彼一时，此一时
What does 彼一时，此一时 mean?
彼一时，此一时 (bǐ yī shí ， cǐ yī shí) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Circumstances are different now”.
How do you pronounce 彼一时，此一时?
彼一时，此一时 is pronounced bǐ yī shí ， cǐ yī shí in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 彼一时，此一时 literally mean?
Literally, 彼一时，此一时 means “that one time, this one time”. It is used to mean “Circumstances are different now”.
Where does 彼一时，此一时 come from?
彼一时，此一时 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 彼一时，此一时?
那是一个时候，现在又是一个时候。表示时间不同，情况有了变化。