时而

shí ér

HSK 2.0 Level 6 HSK 3.0 Level 7 Adverb Rare

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Definitions

1. occasionally
2. from time to time

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Word relationships

Synonyms

1 item

• 偶尔 ǒu ěr 偶尔 ǒu ěr occasionally 二者都表示不经常发生，但'时而'更书面化。: occasionally

Usage notes

Formality

'时而' is more literary than '偶尔' and often used in written language or formal speech.

Grammar

Guides that feature 时而

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1 guide

HSK 2.0 Level 6+ HSK 3.0 Level 7–9+ 6 min

忽A忽B and 时A时B for “Now A, Now B”

Use 忽冷忽热 for sudden, unpredictable changes and 时好时坏 for things that switch back and forth over time.

Reading: shí ér Open guide

Example Sentences

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北方的天气 时而 晴朗， 时而 下雨。

The weather in the north is sometimes sunny, sometimes rainy.

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Words Containing 时而

• 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])

Child Words of 时而

• 时 时 shí: o'clock
• 而 而 ér: and