Definitions

shí (noun) time; hour
shí (noun) o'clock; period; season

Etymology

Simplified form of .

Semantic:

About

is a noun denoting time, seasons, or specific moments, and inherently ties the passage of time to celestial movements. The traditional character is a phono-semantic compound: the sun radical (left side) provides the semantic link to days and daylight, while (sì) on the right gives the sound. The simplified swaps for (inch), a phonetic shorthand that also evokes the careful measurement of time. It occurs frequently in compound words for hours, eras, opportunities, and as grammatical tense markers in complex constructions.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

现在是什么间?

Xiànzài shì shénme shíjiān?

What time is it now?

我小候住在北京。

Wǒ xiǎo shíhòu zhù zài Běijīng.

I lived in Beijing when I was young.

学习要专心。

Xuéxí shí yào zhuānxīn.

You should concentrate when studying.

他及完成了作业。

Tā jíshí wánchéng le zuòyè.

He completed his homework on time.

天气变化,记得加衣服。

Tiānqì biànhuà shí, jìde jiā yīfu.

When the weather changes, remember to put on more clothes.

提醒自己要努力。

Tā shíshí tíxǐng zìjǐ yào nǔlì.

She constantly reminds herself to work hard.

在困难,朋友帮助了我。

Zài kùnnán shí, péngyou bāngzhù le wǒ.

During difficult times, friends helped me.

当他到达,会议已经开始了。

Dāng tā dàodá shí, huìyì yǐjīng kāishǐ le.

When he arrived, the meeting had already started.