时间 shíjiān time
time; period
How to remember 时间: 时 time + 间 room = time.
Characters
How it is used
- Time as a duration or availability - 没时间 (méi shíjiān) no time, 时间到了 time's up.
- Contrast 时候 (shíhou), a point/moment ('when'): 什么时候 when? vs 多长时间 how long?
- Also contrasts 点 (diǎn), the clock reading: 几点 what time (o'clock).
Example sentences
- 起床的时间到了。 Qǐchuáng de shíjiān dào le.It's time to get up.
- 时间很晚了，我们回家吧！ Shíjiān hěn wǎn le, wǒmen huíjiā ba!It's very late, so let's go home!
- 时间正好合适。 Shíjiān zhènghǎo héshì.This is just the right time.
- 我们另外找时间见面。 Wǒmen lìngwài zhǎo shíjiān jiànmiàn.Let's find another time to meet.