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计时 (jì shí) — to time, to measure elapsed time

Definition

计时 means to measure or keep track of elapsed time (timing a race, a parking fee by the hour). A measurable 离合词: insert 了 / 过 or a numeral-measure phrase between 记 and 时.

verb
to timeto measure elapsed time

Examples

  • ，计时。
    Bǐ sài kāi shǐ, jì shí.
    The competition begins — start timing.
  • ，。
    Tā jì le yí cì shí, fā xiàn yòng le sān miǎo.
    He timed once and found it took three seconds.
  • 计时。
    Zhè ge tíng chē chǎng àn jì shí shōu fèi.
    This parking lot charges by the hour.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

计jìmeasure
时shítime

计 ('measure') and 时 ('time') combine to mean measure time.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 計; 计 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 計 pairs 言 (say) with 十 (all). The simplified 计 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical shape.

Open 计 →

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 →
Appears in
Time (Abstract)

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