times have changed; different times, different circumstances
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
times have changed; different times, different circumstances
Used to explain why past situations or decisions are no longer applicable to the present. It is neutral in register and can be used both formally and informally. The variant "此一时，彼一时" is also acceptable.
Bǐ彼
yī一
shí时
，
cǐ此
yī一
shí时
，
xiàn现
zài在
shì市
chǎng场
huán环
jìng境
hé和
shí十
nián年
qián前
wán完
quán全
bù不
tóng同
le了
。
Times have changed; the market environment is completely different from ten years ago.
Bǐ彼
yī一
shí时
，
cǐ此
yī一
shí时
，
bù不
néng能
yòng用
lǎo老
bàn办
fǎ法
jiě解
jué决
xīn新
wèn问
tí题
。
Times have changed; you can't use old methods to solve new problems.
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Bà爸
ba爸
zǒng总
shì是
shuō说
tā他
nián年
qīng轻
shí时
shàng上
xué学
duō多
xīn辛
kǔ苦
，
wǒ我
gào告
sù诉
tā他
，
bǐ彼
yī一
shí时
，
cǐ此
yī一
shí时
ma嘛
！
Dad is always talking about how hard school was when he was young, and I tell him, 'Times have changed!'
Wǒ我
men们
guò过
qù去
shì是
jìng竞
zhēng争
duì对
shǒu手
，
dàn但
bǐ彼
yī一
shí时
，
cǐ此
yī一
shí时
，
xiàn现
zài在
wán完
quán全
kě可
yǐ以
chéng成
wéi为
hé合
zuò作
huǒ伙
bàn伴
。
We were rivals in the past, but times have changed, and now we can very well become partners.