时间段 (shí jiān duàn) — time period; time slot; time interval | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A noun meaning a bounded span of time — a specific slot or interval (e.g. 3 to 5 PM). Concretely measurable, unlike 时刻 ('a point in time').

noun

time periodtime slottime interval

Examples

时间段。
Zhè ge shí jiān duàn de jī piào bǐ jiào pián yi.
Airline tickets during this time period are relatively cheap.
时间段。
Qǐng xuǎn zé yí gè hé shì de shí jiān duàn.
Please select a suitable time slot.
时间段。
Xià wǔ sān diǎn dào wǔ diǎn shì wǒ zuì máng de shí jiān duàn.
From 3 to 5 PM is my busiest time period.

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.

时间time

时shítime间jiāninterval

联合Coordinate

段duànsegment

时间 means time and 段 means a stretch, so it denotes a time period.

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.

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.

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

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

殳殳shū

Sound part声符shēngfú

厂

厂chǎng段duàn

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

段's shape shows 殳 as a hammer breaking a stone, with fragments flying off.

Appears in

Time (Abstract)

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