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此时此刻 (cǐ shí cǐ kè) — at this very moment; right now; this very moment

Definition

Idiom meaning 'this exact moment,' more emphatic and literary than the plain 现在 or 此时. Use for heightened, present-moment emphasis rather than everyday time reference.

idiom
at this very momentright nowthis very moment

Examples

  • 此时此刻，。
    cǐ shí cǐ kè, Wǒ gǎn dào wú bǐ xìng fú.
    At this very moment, I feel immensely happy.
  • 此时此刻，，。
    cǐ shí cǐ kè, Wǒ men wú fǎ gǎi biàn lì shǐ, zhǐ néng miàn xiàng wèi lái.
    At this very moment, we cannot change history; we can only face the future.
  • 此时此刻，。
    Zhí bō zhōng de cǐ shí cǐ kè, quán qiú guān zhòng dōu zài zhù shì zhe wǔ tái.
    At this very moment during the livestream, audiences around the world are watching the stage.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

此时this time
此cǐthis时shítime
偏正Modifier + head
此刻this moment
此cǐthis刻kèmoment
偏正Modifier + head

此时 this time and 此刻 this moment together mean at this very moment.

Characters in this word

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

此 shows 止 (feet) and 人 (person), drawing a person stopping, to mean 'this' or 'here.'

Open 此 →

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 →

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

此 shows 止 (feet) and 人 (person), drawing a person stopping, to mean 'this' or 'here.'

Open 此 →

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
刂Written in full as刀dāo
Sound part声符shēngfú
亥
亥hài刻kè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

刻 is made of 刂, a form of 刀 (knife), and 亥, which gives the sound.

Open 刻 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set PhrasesTime (Abstract)

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