a period; a moment; temporary; sometimes
Meanings
4 senses · 12 examplesnoun
a period; a time; an era
Often used in set phrases to compare different periods or to describe a temporary state of affairs.
Times have changed; the situation is completely different now.
For a time, no one could rival him; he was the finest scholar of that era.
noun
a moment; a short while; a brief period
Commonly used with 半刻 to indicate a very short duration, or to describe temporary phenomena.
Please wait just a moment; I'll be ready right away.
We won't need these things for the moment; put them away for now.
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This is merely a temporary and superficial phenomenon; don't worry too much about it.
adverb
temporarily; for the moment; on a whim
Describes actions done spontaneously, temporarily, or without prior thought. Often implies a fleeting mental state.
For the moment, I can't recall who he is; his name is on the tip of my tongue.
On a whim, he wrote two poems and gave them to his friends.
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Don't make decisions you'll regret because of a momentary impulse.
He made a mistake in a moment of confusion.
adverb
now... now...; sometimes... sometimes...
Used in a reduplicated pattern (一时...一时...) to indicate alternating states or conditions, similar to 时而.
The weather on the plateau changes greatly—now sunny, now rainy.
He feels hot and cold by turns; he might have caught a cold.
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Her moods swing up and down, making her hard to read.