为时过早 (wéi shí guò zǎo) — premature, too early (to do something)

Definition

A formal idiom meaning 'it's too early (to act or judge)' — the timing hasn't ripened yet. Used to caution against a premature decision, not to describe early arrival.

idiom
prematuretoo early (to do something)

Examples

  • 为时过早
    Xiàn zài xià jié lùn hái wéi shí guò zǎo.
    It's still too early to draw a conclusion now.
  • 为时过早
    Nǐ zhè me shuō shí zài wéi shí guò zǎo le.
    You're really premature in saying that.
  • 为时过早
    Fēn xiǎng shèng lì de xiāo xi kǒng pà wéi shí guò zǎo.
    It might be premature to share the news of victory.

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
sun; day
Sound part声符shēngfú
zhīshí
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 過; 过 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
wāiguò
Same sound today

The traditional form 過 pairs 辵 (walk) with 咼 as a sound component; the simplified 过 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 过 →

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
sun
Sound part声符shēngfú
zǎozǎo
Same sound today

The form 早 pairs 日 (sun) with 棗, which gives the sound; an earlier shape of 早 was a picture of an acorn.

Open 早 →

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