时间

shíjiān

noun★Beginner

general

Time; a period or duration

请告诉我现在的时间。

Please tell me the current time.

我们需要更多的时间来完成这个项目。

We need more time to complete this project.

💡

Can refer to both specific moments (e.g., 现在的时间) and durations (e.g., 一个小时的时间).

general

An opportunity or occasion

这是一个学习的好时间。

This is a good time to learn.

💡

Often used in expressions about favorable moments.

Collocations

浪费时间waste time节省时间save time花时间spend time

时间就是金钱proverb

Time is money

时间管理phrase

time management

Use '时间' with verbs like 花 (spend), 节省 (save), or 浪费 (waste) to describe time usage.

Use '时间' for general time, but '几点' (what time) for specific clock times (e.g., 现在几点？).

Composed of '时' (time) and '间' (interval/space between), literally meaning 'interval of time'.

Often used with measure words like '一段时间' (a period of time) or '一点时间' (some time).

时

time

root

间

interval/space

root

✎ Noted on May 31, 2026ZH → EN