暂时 zànshí temporary
temporary; transient; for the moment
How to remember 暂时: 暂 temporary + 时 time = temporary.
Characters
How it is used
- Temporarily / for the time being - 暂时不能来 (zànshí bù néng lái) can't come for now, 暂时的困难 a temporary difficulty.
- Signals a state that is expected to change; often with 不/没有 to say 'not for now'.
- Near-synonym 临时 (línshí) stresses 'improvised/on short notice' (临时决定 a last-minute decision); 暂时 stresses 'only for a while'.
Example sentences
- 爸爸只是暂时离开。 Bàba zhǐshì zànshí líkāi.My father has just left temporarily.
- 他们说情况只是暂时的。 Tāmen shuō qíngkuàng zhǐshì zànshí de.They said the situation was only temporary.