Meaning of 此刻
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- this moment
- now
- at present
How to use 此刻
此刻 is a slightly formal or literary way to say "now". It often appears in writing, speeches, and emotional statements. Example: 此刻我很想家。(Cǐkè wǒ hěn xiǎng jiā.) At this moment I really miss home.
此 (cǐ) means "this" and 刻 (kè) means "moment" or "quarter hour", so 此刻 is simply "this moment". Think of 刻 as a tick carved on a clock, and 此 pointing right at it.
Common mistake: Learners often use 此刻 in casual speech where 现在 (xiànzài) sounds more natural, which can make them sound overly dramatic. Also, do not confuse it with 立刻 (lìkè), which means "immediately" and describes how fast an action happens, not the present time.
此刻 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.
此 cǐ · this · 6 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
刻 kè · quarter · 8 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
Related words
Words that share a character with 此刻.
| 因此 | yīncǐ | thus; consequently; as a result |
| 立刻 | lìkè | immediately; at once; right away |
| 时刻 | shíkè | time; juncture |
| 深刻 | shēnkè | profound; deep |
| 从此 | cóngcǐ | from now on; since then |
| 此外 | cǐwài | besides; in addition; moreover; furthermore |
| 如此 | rúcǐ | like this; so; such |
| 彼此 | bǐcǐ | each other; one another |
| 此时 | cǐshí | now; this moment |
| 由此 | yóu cǐ | hereby; from this |
| 此后 | cǐhòu | after this; afterwards |
| 为此 | wèicǐ | for this reason; with regards to this |
Questions about 此刻
What does 此刻 mean?
此刻 (cǐkè) means "this moment; now" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 此刻?
此刻 is made of 2 characters: 此 (6 strokes), 刻 (8 strokes). That is 14 strokes in total.
Is 此刻 an HSK word?
Yes. 此刻 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 此刻 and 此时?
Both mean "at this time" and are often interchangeable. 此刻 stresses a very specific instant, while 此时 (cǐshí) can refer to a slightly broader period. 此时此刻 is a common set phrase meaning "right here and now".
Can 此刻 be used for a moment in the past?
Not usually. For a past moment in a story, Chinese more often uses 那时 (nàshí) or 那一刻 (nà yí kè), meaning "at that moment". 此刻 points to the present from the speaker's point of view.