Meaning of 一时
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- a period of time
- a while
- for a short while
- temporary
- momentary
- at the same time
How to use 一时
一时 often appears before a verb or adjective to show a temporary state, especially in set phrases like 一时想不起来 (can't recall at the moment) and 一时冲动 (a moment of impulse). It can also mean "a period of time" in phrases like 风靡一时 (popular for a time). Example: 我一时想不起他的名字。 (Wǒ yīshí xiǎng bù qǐ tā de míngzi.) I can't think of his name right now.
一时 is built from 一 (yī, one) and 时 (shí, time), so think of it as "one moment of time." It points to something that lasts only a short while, not forever.
Common mistake: Learners often use 一时 like 一会儿 (yīhuìr) for plain "a little while," as in 请等一时. That sounds wrong. Say 请等一会儿 instead, and save 一时 for temporary states or sudden reactions. Also note that 一 changes tone before some syllables, but before 时 (second tone) it is read yì in speech, so you will hear yìshí.
一时 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
一 yī · one · 1 strokes
- 1
时 shí · o'clock · 7 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
Related words
Words that share a character with 一时.
| 时候 | shíhou | time; length of time |
| 一起 | yīqǐ | (in) the same place; together; in company (with) |
| 一样 | yīyàng | same; like |
| 时间 | shíjiān | (concept of) time; (duration of) time |
| 一些 | yīxiē | some; a few; a little; (following an adjective) slightly ...er |
| 小时 | xiǎoshí | hour |
| 有时 | yǒushí | sometimes; now and then |
| 一会儿 | yīhuìr | a moment; a while |
| 有时候 | yǒushíhou | sometimes |
| 一半 | yībàn | half |
| 一边 | yībiān | one side; either side |
| 一点儿 | yīdiǎnr | erhua variant of 一點|一点[yi1 dian3] |
Questions about 一时
What does 一时 mean?
一时 (yīshí) means "a period of time; a while" and is used as a noun and adverb.
How do you write 一时?
一时 is made of 2 characters: 一 (1 strokes), 时 (7 strokes). That is 8 strokes in total.
Is 一时 an HSK word?
Yes. 一时 is on the HSK 6 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 一时 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 一时 is written 一時.
What is the difference between 一时 and 暂时 (zànshí)?
暂时 is neutral and means "for now, temporarily," often about plans or arrangements, like 暂时不去. 一时 stresses a brief moment, often an unplanned reaction or state, like 一时糊涂 (a moment of confusion).
What does 一时……一时…… mean?
Repeated as 一时……一时……, it means "now this, now that," describing things that keep changing. For example, 天气一时冷一时热 means the weather is cold one moment and hot the next.