这时 (zhè shí) — this moment, this time

Definition

这时 marks the moment an event happens, often introducing a sudden or contrasting turn in a narrative. Common in writing alongside 那时 and 当时.

noun

this momentthis time

，。
Zhè shí, tā tū rán zhàn le qǐ lái.
At that moment, he suddenly stood up.
，。
Wǒ men zhèng zài chī fàn, zhè shí diàn huà xiǎng le.
We were eating when the phone rang.
，。
Jīng guò cháng shí jiān de zhēng lùn, zhè shí huì chǎng ān jìng le xià lái.
After a long debate, the meeting hall quieted down at that moment.

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.

这 ('this') and 时 ('time') combine to mean this 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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 這; 这 is its simplified writing.

辶言這

Meaning part形符xíngfú

辶Written in full as辵chuòwalk

Sound part声符shēngfú

言

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

In the traditional form 這, 辶 (walk) combines with 言 for the sound. The character first meant “to meet” and was later used for “this”.

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

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.

Appears in