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平时 (píng shí) — ordinarily, in normal times, usually

Definition

平时 (píngshí) is a time-noun meaning 'in normal times / usually', often placed before a clause to set the routine baseline. Closer to 平常 than to adverbs like 通常; 平日 is a more formal synonym. Negate a habit with 平时不 + verb.

noun
ordinarilyin normal timesusually

Examples

  • 平时。
    Wǒ píng shí xǐ huan kàn shū.
    I usually like to read.
  • 平时，。
    píng shí Zhè lǐ rén bù duō, dàn shì zhōu mò rén hěn duō.
    Usually there aren't many people here, but there are a lot on weekends.
  • 平时，。
    Tā píng shí bù hē jiǔ, jīn tiān gāo xìng cái hē le yì diǎn.
    He doesn't usually drink, but today he had a little because he's happy.

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.

平píngusual/normal
时shítime

平时 joins 平 'usual/normal' and 时 'time' to mean ordinary times.

Characters in this word

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

The origin is uncertain. One explanation combines 八 (division) and 亏 (exhaled air) to show smooth speech.

Open 平 →

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 →

Grammar

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 3HSK 2.0 Level 4Frequency & Duration5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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