Meaning of 平时
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- ordinarily
- in normal times
- in peacetime
How to use 平时
平时 describes what you usually do on normal days, often in contrast with weekends, holidays, or a special occasion. It usually comes at the start of a sentence or right after the subject. Example: 我平时七点起床。(Wǒ píngshí qī diǎn qǐchuáng.) I usually get up at seven.
平 (píng) means flat or level, and 时 (shí) means time. A flat, level time with nothing special happening is your ordinary, everyday time.
Common mistake: Learners often put 平时 at the end of a sentence like English "usually", as in 我喝茶平时. It should go before the verb: 我平时喝茶. Also keep both syllables in the second tone, píngshí, not pǐngshí.
平时 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.
平 píng · flat · 5 strokes
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- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
时 shí · o'clock · 7 strokes
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- 7
Related words
Words that share a character with 平时.
| 时候 | shíhou | time; length of time |
| 时间 | shíjiān | (concept of) time; (duration of) time |
| 小时 | xiǎoshí | hour |
| 有时 | yǒushí | sometimes; now and then |
| 有时候 | yǒushíhou | sometimes |
| 当时 | dāngshí | then; at that time |
| 那时 | nà shí | then; at that time |
| 同时 | tóngshí | at the same time; simultaneously |
| 公平 | gōngpíng | fair; impartial |
| 随时 | suíshí | at any time; at all times; at the right time; whenever necessary |
| 小时候 | xiǎoshíhou | in one's childhood |
| 平常 | píngcháng | ordinary; common |
Questions about 平时
What does 平时 mean?
平时 (píngshí) means "ordinarily; in normal times" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 平时?
平时 is made of 2 characters: 平 (5 strokes), 时 (7 strokes). That is 12 strokes in total.
Is 平时 an HSK word?
Yes. 平时 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 平时 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 平时 is written 平時.
What is the difference between 平时 and 经常?
平时 means "on ordinary days" and sets a time frame, often contrasted with special times. 经常 (jīngcháng) means "often" and describes frequency. 我平时不喝酒 means you normally don't drink, perhaps except at parties.
Can 平时 be used as a noun in a sentence?
Yes. It can act like a time noun and take 的 or appear after 跟. For example, 跟平时一样 (gēn píngshí yíyàng) means "the same as usual", and 平时的工作 means "everyday work".