不时
HSK 6- Time
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
Adverb 不时 expresses an action that occurs frequently but without a fixed pattern, similar to 'from time to time' or 'every now and then'.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
The adverb 不时 (bùshí) means "from time to time" or "now and then," used to indicate an action or situation that occurs repeatedly but without a fixed pattern. It carries a slightly more formal tone than 常常 (chángcháng) or 有时候 (yǒushíhou).
不时 emphasizes the random, spontaneous recurrence of an action. Picture a gentle breeze that drifts past every now and then — that is precisely the feeling 不时 conveys.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 他在国外，不时想起家人。繁: 他在國外，不時想起家人。Tā zài guówài, bùshí xiǎngqǐ jiārén.
He is abroad and occasionally thinks of his family.
- 窗外不时传来几声鸟叫。繁: 窗外不時傳來幾聲鳥叫。Chuāngwài bùshí chuánlái jǐ shēng niǎojiào.
Outside the window, the sound of bird calls drifted over from time to time.
- 爷爷看报时，不时停下来思考。繁: 爺爺看報時，不時停下來思考。Yéye kàn bào shí, bùshí tíng xiàlái sīkǎo.
Grandfather occasionally paused to think while reading the newspaper.
- 夜空中不时有流星划过。繁: 夜空中不時有流星劃過。Yèkōng zhōng bùshí yǒu liúxīng huáguò.
Occasionally, meteors streak across the night sky.
- 他上课不时看一下手机。繁: 他上課不時看一下手機。Tā shàngkè bùshí kàn yíxià shǒujī.
He occasionally glances at his phone during class.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:我昨天不时去学校。Correct:我昨天没去学校。
不时 means "from time to time" or "occasionally," not "not the right time." To negate a past action, use 没.
- Wrong:他不时不来上课。Correct:他有时候不来上课。
不时 is used with actions that occur and cannot be used to express "occasionally not doing something"; use 有时候 in such cases instead.