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

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.

Pattern

subject + 一时 + negative / feeling; subject + 不时 + verb

一时 is one brief moment; 不时 is the same small action again and again.

我一时想不起他的名字了。

When to use Time Adverbs 一时 and 不时

Both go after the subject and before the verb. 一时 means “for a short moment”: it often comes before a negative or a can’t-do phrase (我一时想不起来 “I can’t recall it right now”), or before a sudden feeling that caused a mistake. 不时 means the opposite kind of time: an action that happens again and again at short intervals (他不时看手表 “he kept checking his watch”).

这个问题一时说不清楚。

This question can’t be explained clearly in a moment.

上课的时候，他不时看看窗外。

During class he glanced out the window every now and then.

路上不时有车开过。

Every now and then a car drove past on the road.

他一时着急，说错了话。

In a moment of panic, he said the wrong thing.

Common traps

  • For a planned arrangement say 我暂时住在朋友家, not 我一时住在朋友家: 一时 is a brief, sudden moment.
  • He kept checking his watch is 他不时看手表, not 他一时看手表: 不时 is “again and again”, 一时 is “for a moment”.
  • Put 不时 before the verb: 他不时看手机, not 他看手机不时 (unlike English “from time to time” at the end).

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

会议九点开始，他九点 到了

The meeting began at nine; he arrived on time at nine
Fill in the missing piece, then press Enter

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