暂时

• Pinyin: zàn shí
• Hanzi breakdown: 暂 = 斩 + 日, brief/temporary; 时 = time

Meaning

Temporary; for the time being; provisional. Something that is not permanent.

Indicates a temporary state or action. Can be an adverb or adjective. Common phrases: 暂时的 (temporary), 暂时性 (temporariness), 暂时解决 (temporary solution). Opposite: 永久 (permanent), 长期 (long-term).

Examples

1. 这只是暂时的困难，我们一定能克服。 This is only a temporary difficulty; we can definitely overcome it.
2. 会议室暂时不能使用。 The meeting room is temporarily unavailable.
3. 她暂时住在朋友家。 She is temporarily staying at a friend's place.

Usage Guide

Context: planning, status, solutions

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这是暂时的安排。(This is a temporary arrangement.)
• 我暂时没有计划。(I don't have plans for now.)

Don't Say

• 暂时永远 (Contradictory — 暂时 means temporary, 永远 means forever)

Origin & History

Compound of 暂 (brief, temporary) and 时 (time). For a brief time.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal