occasionally; now... now...
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesadverb
from time to time; occasionally; now and then
Describes actions or events that occur irregularly or repeatedly at unspecified intervals.
Tiān天
kōng空
zhōng中
shí时
ér而
piāo飘
guò过
jǐ几
piàn片
bó薄
bó薄
de的
bái白
yún云
。
From time to time, a few thin white clouds drifted across the sky.
Yuǎn远
chù处
shí时
ér而
chuán传
lái来
jǐ几
shēng声
gǒu狗
jiào叫
。
Occasional barks of dogs could be heard from afar.
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Tā他
shí时
ér而
dī低
tóu头
chén沉
sī思
，
shí时
ér而
tái抬
tóu头
yuǎn远
wàng望
。
He would lower his head in thought from time to time, then raise it to look into the distance.
adverb
now... now...; at one time... at another; sometimes... sometimes
literaryUsed in reduplicated form (时而...时而...) to describe alternating actions, states, or phenomena. Often used in literary or descriptive contexts to convey rhythm or contrast.
Zhè这
jǐ几
tiān天
shí时
ér而
qíng晴
tiān天
，
shí时
ér而
xià下
yǔ雨
。
These past few days it has been sunny at one moment and raining at another.
Tā他
men们
xìng兴
gāo高
cǎi采
liè烈
，
shí时
ér而
yǐn引
háng吭
gāo高
gē歌
，
shí时
ér而
pó婆
suō娑
qǐ起
wǔ舞
。
They were in high spirits, now singing loudly, now dancing gracefully.
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Tiān天
kōng空
zhōng中
de的
yún云
cǎi彩
biàn变
huà化
duō多
duān端
，
shí时
ér而
xiàng像
jùn骏
mǎ马
，
shí时
ér而
xiàng像
mián棉
huā花
táng糖
。
The clouds in the sky were changing constantly, now looking like steeds, now like cotton candy.