几时 (jǐ shí) — when?; what time?

Definition

几时 is a formal/literary 'when?' (几时 is the written form; in speech 你什么时候 is more common).

pronoun
when?what time?
Easily confused

Examples

  • 几时？
    Nǐ jǐ shí néng gěi wǒ huí diàn huà?
    When can you call me back?
  • 几时？
    jǐ shí Cái néng wán chéng zhè ge xiàng mù?
    When will this project be finished?
  • 几时？
    Tā jǐ shí dào de běi jīng?
    When did he arrive in Beijing?

Origin

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.

几jǐhow many
时shítime

几 asks how many and 时 means time, asking about a point in 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 幾; 几 is its simplified writing.

  • 𢆶𢆶𢆶silk threads; little things
  • 戍戍shùto guard against

The traditional form 幾 puts 𢆶 (silk threads; little things) and 戍 (to guard against) together to show watching over the fine details; the simplified 几 is a later abbreviation.

Open 几 →

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 →

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