时而

• Pinyin: shí ér
• Hanzi breakdown: 时 = time; 而 = and, then — sometimes, from time to time

Meaning

Sometimes; from time to time; now and then. An adverb indicating intermittent or occasional occurrence.

Often used in literary or descriptive writing to show alternation or variation. Commonly appears in pairs: 时而...时而... (sometimes...sometimes...) to describe alternating states or actions. More literary than 有时候.

Examples

1. 天气时而晴朗，时而阴沉。 The weather was sometimes clear, sometimes overcast.
2. 他时而沉默，时而滔滔不绝。 He was sometimes silent, sometimes talking non-stop.
3. 海面上时而平静，时而波涛汹涌。 The sea surface was sometimes calm, sometimes turbulent.

Usage Guide

Context: descriptive, written, formal

Tone: elegant

Do Say

• 她时而微笑，时而叹息。(She sometimes smiled, sometimes sighed.)
• 风时而轻柔，时而猛烈。(The wind was sometimes gentle, sometimes fierce.)

Don't Say

• 日常口语用'有时候'更自然 (In everyday speech, use 有时候 — 时而 sounds literary)

Origin & History

Compound of 时 (time) + 而 (and, then). Creates an adverb meaning 'at times' or 'now and then.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Educated