Definitions

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

Etymology

Simplified form of .

Semantic:

About

The traditional character "時" incorporates the sun radical "日" and the component "寺", which initially offered phonetic clues and perhaps a sense of measured regularity, reflecting an early association with periods marked by the sun's movement. Its core meaning began with "season" or "appointed time" before expanding to encompass the general concept of "time", including the "current" era or an "opportune moment". This semantic development led to its use in modern compounds and adverbs, such as in "时常" for "often", indicating a progression from concrete seasonal divisions to more abstract and frequentative temporal expressions.

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.