一时

yī shí

HSK 2.0 Level 6 HSK 3.0 Level 6 Noun Common

Save to list

Select an entry

This word has multiple dictionary entries. Choose the reading or usage you want to review.

一时

yì shí Adverb now … now … (when repeated); for a moment

一时

yī shí Noun a period of time; a while

Definitions

1. a period of time
2. a while
3. for a short while
4. temporary
5. momentary
6. at the same time

Stop forgetting what you study.
Build recall daily.

Try HanyuGuide's Chinese review system with multiple choice, typed recall, tone-aware practice, and reviews scheduled before memory fades.

Start Free Trial · $49.99 / year

Sign up with Google

Did Google show an error? Sorry about that. Use your email below instead.

Continue with Email

Lifetime for $119.99 Try a practice session

Word relationships

Related words

3 items

• 突然 tū rán 突然 tū rán sudden; abrupt; unexpected often used with 一时 in patterns like 一时...一时... or 一时高兴/生气, expressing suddenness: sudden; abrupt; unexpected
• 同时 tóng shí 同时 tóng shí at the same time when meaning 'at the same time', as in 一时之间: at the same time
• 一会儿 yī huì r 一会儿 yī huì r a while both indicate a short period of time, but 一会儿 is more colloquial: a while

Synonyms

1 item

• 暂时 zàn shí 暂时 zàn shí temporary when describing something temporary or short-lived: temporary

Usage notes

Collocations

一时 can be used in the pattern 一时...一时... to indicate alternating states, e.g., 他一时高兴，一时难过 (He is happy one moment and sad the next).

Common mistakes

Do not confuse 一时 with 一直 (continuously). 一时 emphasizes temporariness or a moment, not continuous action.

Grammar

Guides that feature 一时

Jump into a full guide with fill-in-the-blank drills. Clicking will load the page and move you to the top.

1 guide

HSK 2.0 Level 6+ HSK 3.0 Level 6+ 6 min

Time Adverbs 一时 and 不时

Use 一时 for something you can’t do or did on impulse in a brief moment, and 不时 for an action that keeps happening every now and then.

Reading: yī shí Open guide

Example Sentences

1 shown

我 一时 想不起来他的名字。

I can't remember his name for the moment.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 一时

• 一时半霎 一时半霎 yī shí bàn shà: a short time
• 一时间 一时间 yī shí jiān: for a moment
• 一时半刻 一时半刻 yī shí bàn kè: a short time
• 一时半会 一时半会 yī shí bàn huì: a short time
• 一时瑜亮 一时瑜亮 yī shí yú liàng: two remarkable persons living at the same period (as 周瑜[zhōu yú] and 諸葛亮|诸葛亮[zhū gě liàng])
• 一时半晌 一时半晌 yī shí bàn shǎng: a short time
• 名噪一时 名噪一时 míng zào yī shí: to achieve fame among one's contemporaries (idiom); temporary or local celebrity
• 在家千日好，出门一时难 在家千日好，出门一时难 zài jiā qiān rì hǎo , chū mén yī shí nán: lit. at home, one can spend a thousand days in comfort, but spending a day away from home can be challenging (idiom)
• 彼一时此一时 彼一时此一时 bǐ yī shí cǐ yī shí: that was one thing, and this is another
• 烜赫一时 烜赫一时 xuǎn hè yī shí: to enjoy a short-lived fame or position of power
• 无一事而不学，无一时而不学，无一处而不得 无一事而不学，无一时而不学，无一处而不得 wú yī shì ér bù xué , wú yī shí ér bù xué , wú yī chù ér bù dé: Study everything, at all times, everywhere. (Zhu Xi 朱熹[zhū xī])
• 独出一时 独出一时 dú chū yī shí: incomparable
• 盛极一时 盛极一时 shèng jí yī shí: all the rage for a time
• 第一时间 第一时间 dì yī shí jiān: in the first moments (of sth happening)
• 红极一时 红极一时 hóng jí yī shí: tremendously popular for a while
• 聪明一世，懵懂一时 聪明一世，懵懂一时 cōng ming yī shì , měng dǒng yī shí: see 聰明一世，糊塗一時|聪明一世，糊涂一时[cōng ming yī shì , hú tu yī shí]
• 聪明一世，糊涂一时 聪明一世，糊涂一时 cōng ming yī shì , hú tu yī shí: even the wisest can have a momentary lapse in judgment (idiom)
• 轰动一时 轰动一时 hōng dòng yī shí: to cause a sensation (idiom)
• 风行一时 风行一时 fēng xíng yī shí: to be popular for a while; to be all the rage for a time
• 风靡一时 风靡一时 fēng mǐ yī shí: fashionable for a while (idiom); all the rage
• 养兵千日，用兵一时 养兵千日，用兵一时 yǎng bīng qiān rì , yòng bīng yī shí: lit. Train an army for a thousand days to use it for an hour. (idiom); fig. extensive preparation eventually pays off
• 养兵千日，用在一时 养兵千日，用在一时 yǎng bīng qiān rì , yòng zài yī shí: see 養兵千日，用兵一時|养兵千日，用兵一时[yǎng bīng qiān rì , yòng bīng yī shí]

Child Words of 一时

• 一 一 yī: one
• 时 时 shí: o'clock