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适时 (shì shí) — timely, at the right time

Definition

适时 (shìshí) means 'timely, at the right moment' — usually modifying an action or decision. Pairs with 适当 ('appropriate') to stress the right moment, and is more formal than 及时 ('prompt, without delay'), which leans toward speed.

adjective
timelyat the right time
Easily confused

Examples

  • 适时。
    Zhè shì yí gè shì shí de jué dìng.
    This is a timely decision.
  • 适时。
    shì shí Cǎi qǔ xíng dòng fēi cháng zhòng yào.
    It is very important to take action at the right time.
  • 适时。
    Tā de jiàn yì hěn shì shí.
    His suggestion is very timely.

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.

适shìfitting
时shítime

适 means fitting and 时 means time; the sense is at the fitting time.

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 適; 适 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辶Written in full as辵chuò
Sound part声符shēngfú
啻
啻chì適shì
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 適 pairs 辶 (walking) with a sound part; its inner part was originally 啻 and was stylized into 啇. The simplified 适 is a later variant.

Open 适 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Time (Abstract)

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