时而…时而…
HSK 6- Time
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
The structure 时而…时而… is used to express two states or actions that alternate, shifting back and forth in an irregular manner.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
The structure 时而…时而… is used to describe two or more different states or actions occurring alternately and in succession. It carries a formal or written register, equivalent to "sometimes…sometimes…" or "at times…at times…" in English. Compared to 一会儿…一会儿…, this structure is typically used to describe changes that occur over a longer period of time and do not necessarily alternate in immediate succession.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 这几天的天气时而晴，时而雨。繁: 這幾天的天氣時而晴，時而雨。zhè jǐ tiān de tiānqì shí'ér qíng, shí'ér yǔ.
The weather these past few days is sometimes sunny and sometimes rainy.
- 他的心情时而高兴，时而悲伤。繁: 他的心情時而高興，時而悲傷。tā de xīnqíng shí'ér gāoxìng, shí'ér bēishāng.
His mood alternates between happiness and sadness.
- 远处的灯光时而明，时而暗。繁: 遠處的燈光時而明，時而暗。yuǎnchù de dēngguāng shí'ér míng, shí'ér àn.
The distant light alternates between bright and dim.
- 小鸟在树上时而唱歌，时而梳理羽毛。繁: 小鳥在樹上時而唱歌，時而梳理羽毛。xiǎo niǎo zài shù shàng shí'ér chànggē, shí'ér shūlǐ yǔmáo.
The little bird in the tree sometimes sings and sometimes preens its feathers.
- 市场里的人群时而安静，时而喧闹。繁: 市場裡的人群時而安靜，時而喧鬧。shìchǎng lǐ de rénqún shí'ér ānjìng, shí'ér xuānnào.
The crowd in the market is sometimes quiet and sometimes noisy.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:他时而看书。Correct:他时而看书，时而听音乐。
This structure requires at least two clauses to express alternation and cannot consist of only a single action or state.
- Wrong:我时而吃饭，时而睡觉。Correct:我有时候吃饭，有时候睡觉。
时而…时而… typically describes changes in nearby states. For continuous non-alternating actions, use 有时候…有时候… instead.