一时 yìshí a period of time
a period of time; a while; for a short while; temporary; momentary; at the same time
How to remember 一时: 一 one + 时 time = a period of time.
Characters
How it is used
- For a (short) while / momentarily - 一时想不起来 (yìshí xiǎng bù qǐlái) I can't recall it at the moment, 一时冲动 (yìshí chōngdòng) a momentary impulse.
- Also the paired frame 一时…一时… meaning now…now… (alternating): 一时晴一时雨 (yìshí qíng yìshí yǔ) sunny one minute, raining the next.
Example sentences
- 决定好的话请第一时间告诉我。 Juédìng hǎo dehuà qǐng dìyī shíjiān gàosù wǒ.Please let me know as soon as it's decided.
- 一时间我还以为他疯了。 Yīshíjiān wǒ hái yǐwéi tā fēng le.For a moment there, I thought he had gone mad.