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这时候 (zhè shí hou) — at this moment; at this time; now

Definition

pronoun
at this momentat this timenow

Examples

  • 这时候。
    zhè shí hou Tā lái le.
    At this moment, he came.
  • 这时候。
    Wǒ zhè shí hou zhèng zài chī fàn.
    I am eating right now.
  • 这时候。
    zhè shí hou Tiān qì hěn hǎo.
    The weather is very good at this time.

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.

这zhèthis
时候time
时shítime候hòuperiod
联合Coordinate

这 points to the present moment, and 时候 names a time, so it means now.

Characters in this word

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 這; 这 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辶Written in full as辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
言
言yán這zhè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In the traditional form 這, 辶 (walk) combines with 言 for the sound. The character first meant “to meet” and was later used for “this”.

Open 这 →

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 →

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
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
矦
矦hóu候hòu
Same sound today

候 combines 亻, relating to people, with 矦, which gives the sound.

Open 候 →
Appears in
Time (Abstract)

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