时隐时现 (shí yǐn shí xiàn) — to appear and disappear intermittently; to be intermittently visible

Definition

A vivid set phrase meaning something appears and disappears on and off — like flickering lights or a shadow glimpsed through fog. Mainly descriptive; not used for deliberate on/off actions.

verb
to appear and disappear intermittentlyto be intermittently visible

Examples

  • 时隐时现，。
    Yuǎn chù de dēng guāng shí yǐn shí xiàn, xiàng shì yǒu rén zài qiú jiù.
    The light in the distance flickered in and out, as if someone was signaling for help.
  • 时隐时现，。
    Nà ge mó hu de shēn yǐng zài wù zhōng shí yǐn shí xiàn, ràng rén gǎn dào bù ān.
    That blurry figure appeared and disappeared in the mist, making people feel uneasy.
  • 时隐时现，。
    Huí yì zhōng de huà miàn shí yǐn shí xiàn, tā nǔ lì xiǎng zhuā zhù què zǒng shì tú láo.
    The images in his memory flickered in and out; he tried hard to grasp them but always in vain.

Origin

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.

Open 时 →

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 隱; 隐 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
阝Written in full as阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
㥯
㥯㥯隱yǐn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 隱 pairs 阝 (阜) with 㥯 to give the sound; the simplified 隐 is a shorthand, so its right side is not 㥯.

Open 隐 →

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 →

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 現; 现 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
玉玉yùjade
Sound part声符shēngfú
見
見jiàn現
Same sound today

The traditional form 現 pairs 玉 (jade) with 見 as a sound part; the simplified 现 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical parts.

Open 现 →

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