过时

• Pinyin: guò shí
• Hanzi breakdown: 过 = 辶 (walk) + 寸 (inch), meaning to pass; 时 = 日 (sun) + 寸 (inch), meaning time

Meaning

Outdated; out of date; obsolete. No longer current or fashionable.

Used for fashion, technology, ideas, and methods that are no longer relevant. Common collocations: 过时的观念 (outdated ideas), 过时的技术 (obsolete technology), 永不过时 (never goes out of style). Can be neutral or slightly negative depending on context.

Examples

1. 这种营销方式早就过时了，现在都是做社交媒体推广。 This marketing approach has long been outdated — nowadays everyone does social media promotion.
2. 爷爷的观念虽然有些过时，但他说的话也不是完全没有道理。 Although grandpa's views are somewhat outdated, what he says isn't entirely unreasonable.
3. 经典的设计永远不会过时，简洁大方总是最耐看的。 Classic designs never go out of style — simple and elegant is always the most enduring.

Usage Guide

Context: fashion, technology, ideas

Tone: evaluative

Do Say

• 这款手机太过时了。(This phone is way too outdated.)
• 你的想法有点过时了。(Your ideas are a bit outdated.)

Don't Say

• 用过时形容经典老物件 (Be careful using 过时 for vintage items that are cherished — it can sound dismissive)

Origin & History

Compound of 过 (pass, exceed) + 时 (time). Literally 'past the time,' indicating something no longer current.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal