不时

• Pinyin: bù shí
• Hanzi breakdown: 不 (not) + 时 (time)

Meaning

From time to time; occasionally; now and then.

Used to describe actions that happen intermittently or at irregular intervals. More literary than 有时候 or 偶尔. Often appears in written narratives and descriptions.

Examples

1. 他不时地抬头看看窗外，似乎在等什么人。 He raised his head from time to time to look out the window, as if waiting for someone.
2. 会议进行中，与会者不时点头表示赞同。 During the meeting, attendees nodded occasionally to show agreement.
3. 老师讲课时不时穿插一些有趣的故事。 The teacher would occasionally intersperse some interesting stories while lecturing.

Usage Guide

Context: narrative, description, writing

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 她不时回头看一眼。(She looked back from time to time.)
• 他不时发出笑声。(He let out laughs now and then.)

Don't Say

• 把'不时'和'不是'混淆——发音和意思完全不同 (Don't confuse 不时 with 不是 — they have completely different pronunciations and meanings)

Origin & History

Compound of 不 (not) + 时 (time/fixed), meaning 'not at fixed times,' hence 'occasionally.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal