及时

• Pinyin: jí shí
• Hanzi breakdown: 及 = 人 (person) + 又 (hand reaching) — a hand catching someone, meaning 'to reach/arrive at'; 时 = 日 (sun) + 寺 (temple, phonetic) — time measured by the sun

Meaning

Timely; in time; without delay. Describes an action done at the right moment or promptly enough to be effective.

Often used to praise prompt responses or warn against delayed ones. Collocations include 及时处理 (handle promptly), 及时通知 (notify in time), and 不及时 (not timely/too late). It can function as both an adjective (及时的帮助 — timely help) and an adverb (及时到达 — arrive in time).

Examples

1. 医生及时赶到，救了那个病人。 The doctor arrived in time and saved that patient.
2. 有问题要及时跟老师说。 If there is a problem, you should tell the teacher promptly.
3. 幸好雨停得及时，我们没有被淋湿。 Luckily the rain stopped just in time and we did not get wet.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, work, emergency

Tone: urgent

Do Say

• 请及时回复我的消息。(Please reply to my message in a timely manner.)
• 我们及时发现了这个问题。(We discovered this problem in time.)

Don't Say

• 他来了及时。(Don't place 及时 after the verb — it functions as a pre-verbal adverb or adjective. Say 他及时赶到了 or 他来得及时.)

Origin & History

Compound of 及 (reach/arrive at) and 时 (time/moment). Together they convey reaching the moment — i.e., doing something just in time.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal