为时 (wéi shí) — timewise; in terms of timing (used before adjectives to evaluate timeliness)

Definition

为时 (wéi shí) means 'as for the timing' — it sets up an evaluation of whether something is early, late, or appropriate, almost always before 早, 晚, 已晚, 不晚, or 尚早.

adverb
timewisein terms of timing (used before adjectives to evaluate timeliness)

Examples

  • 为时。
    Nǐ xiàn zài kāi shǐ zhǔn bèi hái wéi shí bù wǎn.
    It's still not too late for you to start preparing now.
  • 。
    wéi shí Guò zǎo xià jié lùn shì bù míng zhì de.
    It is unwise to jump to conclusions too early.
  • ，。
    Děng tā fā xiàn cuò wù, wéi shí yǐ wǎn.
    By the time he noticed the mistake, it was already too late.

Origin

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 為; 为 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 為 showed a hand holding an elephant; the simplified 为 is a later shorthand.

Open 为 →

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 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.