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

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.

Pattern

忽 + A + 忽 + B; 时 + A + 时 + B (A and B are usually opposites)

Both patterns describe something that keeps switching between two states; 忽A忽B stresses sudden, quick changes, while 时A时B means “sometimes A, sometimes B.”

这几天天气忽冷忽热，大家都要注意多穿件衣服。

When to use 忽A忽B and 时A时B for “Now A, Now B”

Both patterns put the same character in front of two opposite words. 忽 means “suddenly,” so 忽A忽B is “suddenly A, then suddenly B”: 忽冷忽热, 忽高忽低, 忽明忽暗, 忽上忽下. The change is fast and hard to predict.

他的成绩时好时坏，老师很为他着急。

His grades go up and down, and the teacher is worried about him.

风很大，桌上的烛光忽明忽暗。

The wind was strong, and the candlelight on the table kept flickering.

雨时下时停，下了一整天。

The rain kept starting and stopping all day.

她对朋友的态度忽冷忽热，大家不知道她在想什么。

She’s warm to her friends one moment and cold the next, and nobody knows what she’s thinking.

Common traps

  • Use the same character twice: 忽冷忽热, 时好时坏; don’t mix 忽 and 时.
  • A and B are usually opposites (冷/热, 好/坏, 上/下), not two random words.
  • 忽A忽B is for sudden, quick changes; for on-and-off changes over time, 时A时B fits better.

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

雨 下时停，下了一整天

The rain kept starting and stopping all day
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