耗时

• Pinyin: hào shí
• Hanzi breakdown: 耗 = gradual depletion; 时 = 日 (sun) + 寺 (temple) — time

Meaning

Time-consuming; to take time. Describes a process or task that requires a significant or notable amount of time.

Often used attributively (耗时的工作 — time-consuming work) or with quantifiers (耗时三年 — took three years). Common in project reports, schedules, and efficiency discussions. Highlights the duration as a notable cost.

Examples

1. 人工核查这些数据非常耗时，应考虑引入自动化工具。 Manually verifying this data is very time-consuming; we should consider introducing automation tools.
2. 整个审批流程耗时将近半年，严重影响了项目的推进速度。 The entire approval process took nearly half a year, seriously affecting the pace of the project.
3. 这种传统工艺极为耗时，但成品的质量无可挑剔。 This traditional craft is extremely time-consuming, but the finished product’s quality is flawless.

Usage Guide

Context: project management, efficiency, formal reports

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 手工制作每件产品耗时约四十分钟，成本较高。(Handcrafting each product takes around 40 minutes — making costs relatively high.)
• 这项调查工作耗时数月，最终形成了一份详尽的报告。(This survey work took several months and ultimately produced a comprehensive report.)

Don't Say

• 耗时 for quick tasks — 花了一点时间 or 只需片刻 is more natural when duration is brief

Origin & History

耗 (consume/deplete) + 时 (time)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal