Meaning of 此时
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- now
- this moment
How to use 此时
此时 is more formal and written than 现在 (xiànzài). It often appears in stories, news, and descriptions to mark the exact moment something happens. Example: 此时，门外传来一阵敲门声。(Cǐshí, mén wài chuánlái yí zhèn qiāomén shēng.) At this moment, a knock came from outside the door.
此 (cǐ) means "this" and 时 (shí) means "time", so 此时 is simply "this time", the moment right now. Picture someone pointing at the clock and saying "this time, here".
Common mistake: Learners often use 此时 in casual speech where 现在 (xiànzài) sounds natural, such as 我此时很饿, which sounds stiff. Also do not mix it up with 当时 (dāngshí), which means "at that time" in the past, not "now".
此时 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.
此 cǐ · this · 6 strokes
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时 shí · o'clock · 7 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 此时.
| 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 |
| 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 此时
What does 此时 mean?
此时 (cǐshí) means "now; this moment" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 此时?
此时 is made of 2 characters: 此 (6 strokes), 时 (7 strokes). That is 13 strokes in total.
Is 此时 an HSK word?
Yes. 此时 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 此时 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 此时 is written 此時.
What is the difference between 此时 and 此刻?
Both mean "this moment" and are formal. 此刻 (cǐkè) stresses an even more exact instant and often appears in emotional phrases like 此时此刻 (cǐshí cǐkè), "at this very moment".
Can 此时 refer to a moment in the past?
Yes. In narration, 此时 can mean "at this point" within the story, even if the story is in the past. It points to the moment currently being described.