Meaning of 时机
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- opportunity; opportune moment
How to use 时机
时机 stresses timing: whether a moment is right or wrong to act. It often goes with 成熟 (chéngshú, ripe), 抓住 (zhuāzhù, seize), or 错过 (cuòguò, miss). Example: 现在还不是说的时机。(Xiànzài hái bú shì shuō de shíjī.) Now is not yet the right time to say it.
时 (shí) means time and 机 (jī) appears in 机会 (jīhuì, chance), so 时机 is the time when a chance opens up. Think of it as the right moment on the clock for your opportunity.
Common mistake: Learners often use 时机 where 机会 (jīhuì) fits better. 机会 is a general chance, like a job opportunity, while 时机 is about the right timing, so say 我有一个机会 (I have a chance), not 我有一个时机.
时机 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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机 jī · desk · 6 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 时机.
| 时候 | shíhou | time; length of time |
| 时间 | shíjiān | (concept of) time; (duration of) time |
| 小时 | xiǎoshí | hour |
| 飞机 | fēijī | airplane |
| 手机 | shǒujī | cell phone; mobile phone |
| 有时 | yǒushí | sometimes; now and then |
| 有时候 | yǒushíhou | sometimes |
| 机场 | jīchǎng | airport; airfield; (slang) service provider for Shadowsocks or similar software for circum |
| 机票 | jīpiào | plane ticket; airline ticket |
| 电视机 | diànshìjī | television set |
| 机会 | jīhuì | opportunity; chance |
| 当时 | dāngshí | then; at that time |
Questions about 时机
What does 时机 mean?
时机 (shíjī) means "opportunity; opportune moment" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 时机?
时机 is made of 2 characters: 时 (7 strokes), 机 (6 strokes). That is 13 strokes in total.
Is 时机 an HSK word?
Yes. 时机 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 时机 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 时机 is written 時機.
What does 时机成熟 mean?
时机成熟 (shíjī chéngshú) means the time is ripe or conditions are right. It is common in news and formal speech, for example when the timing is right to launch a plan.
Is 时机 formal or casual?
It is neutral to slightly formal and works in both speech and writing. In very casual talk people may simply say 时候 (shíhou), as in 现在不是时候 (now is not the time).