彼时 (bǐ shí) — at that time

Definition

Literary/formal 'at that time,' mostly used in written narrative. Compare with 当时 (dāngshí), which is the neutral everyday choice; 彼时 sounds more distant and bookish.

noun
at that time

Examples

  • 彼时，。
    bǐ shí, Tā hái zài guó wài liú xué.
    At that time, he was still studying abroad.
  • 彼时，。
    bǐ shí De wǒ, bìng bù míng bái zhè ge dào lǐ.
    At that time, I did not understand this principle.
  • 彼时，。
    bǐ shí De qíng jǐng, zhì jīn réng lì lì zài mù.
    The scene at that time is still vivid in my memory today.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

彼bǐthat
时shítime

彼 means that, and 时 means time.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
彳彳chì
Sound part声符shēngfú
皮
皮pí彼bǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left part 彳 points to the meaning, and the right part 皮 gives the sound.

Open 彼 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 時; 时 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
日日rìsun; day
Sound part声符shēngfú
之
之zhī時shí
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 時 pairs 日 (sun/day) with 之 as the part that gives the sound; the simplified 时 is not the form described.

Open 时 →

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