Meaning of 时刻
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- time
- juncture
- moment
- period of time
- constantly
- always
Measure word: 個|个,段
How to use 时刻
As a noun, 时刻 means a specific moment, often an important one, like 关键时刻 (guānjiàn shíkè, critical moment). As an adverb, it means constantly or at all times, often in the pattern 时刻 + verb or 时时刻刻. Example: 我们要时刻注意安全。(Wǒmen yào shíkè zhùyì ānquán.) We must pay attention to safety at all times.
时 (shí) means time, and 刻 (kè) is a quarter of an hour, as in 一刻钟 (yí kè zhōng). Put them together and you get a precise point on the clock: a moment.
Common mistake: Learners often use 时刻 where 时间 (shíjiān) is needed. 时刻 is a point in time, not an amount of time, so say 我没有时间 (wǒ méiyǒu shíjiān), not 我没有时刻. Also keep the fourth tone on 刻 (kè), not kě.
时刻 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.
时 shí · o'clock · 7 strokes
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刻 kè · quarter · 8 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 时刻.
| 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 |
| 随时 | suíshí | at any time; at all times; at the right time; whenever necessary |
| 小时候 | xiǎoshíhou | in one's childhood |
| 平时 | píngshí | ordinarily; in normal times |
| 这时候 | zhè shíhou |
Questions about 时刻
What does 时刻 mean?
时刻 (shíkè) means "time; juncture" and is used as a noun and adverb.
How do you write 时刻?
时刻 is made of 2 characters: 时 (7 strokes), 刻 (8 strokes). That is 15 strokes in total.
Is 时刻 an HSK word?
Yes. 时刻 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 时刻 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 时刻 is written 時刻.
What is the difference between 时刻 and 时候?
时候 (shíhou) is the everyday word for 'when' or 'the time when', as in 你小的时候 (when you were little). 时刻 sounds more formal and stresses a precise or meaningful moment. 时候 cannot be used as an adverb meaning 'always', but 时刻 can.
What does 时刻表 mean?
时刻表 (shíkèbiǎo) is a timetable or schedule, such as for trains or buses. It lists the exact times of departures and arrivals, which fits the 'precise moment' meaning of 时刻.