不时 bùshí from time to time
from time to time; now and then; occasionally; frequently
How to remember 不时: 不 not + 时 time = from time to time.
Characters
How it is used
- 'From time to time, every so often' - 他不时看看表 (tā bùshí kànkan biǎo) he glanced at his watch now and then.
- Adverb before the verb; describes repeated, irregular occurrence.
- Don't read it as 'not' + 'time'; it's a fixed adverb close to 时不时 (shíbùshí), which is the more colloquial variant.
Example sentences
- 他仍然时不时来看我。 Tā réngrán shíbùshí láikàn wǒ.He still comes to see me now and then.
- 我时不时得到母亲的消息。 Wǒ shíbùshí dédào mǔqīn de xiāoxī.I hear from my mother once in a while.
- 他时不时地因为工作去东京。 Tā shíbùshí de yīnwèi gōngzuò qù dōngjīng.He sometimes goes to Tokyo on business.