此时 cǐshí now
now; this moment
How to remember 此时: 此 this + 时 time = now.
Characters
How it is used
- Formal/written 'at this moment/now' - 此时此刻 (cǐshí cǐkè) at this very moment, a set phrase.
- 此时 belongs to written or literary register; in speech people say 现在 (xiànzài) or 这时候.
- Often introduces a narrative beat: 此时，门开了 (cǐshí, mén kāi le) at this moment, the door opened.
- 此 (this) here is the bookish counterpart of colloquial 这.