时不时

• Pinyin: shí bù shí
• Hanzi breakdown: 时 = 日 + 寺 (time, moment); 不 = 一 + 丫 (not, negation); 时 = 日 + 寺 (time — repeated for rhythmic effect)

Meaning

From time to time; every now and then; occasionally but at irregular intervals.

Indicates something that happens repeatedly but without a fixed schedule — less formal than 偶尔 (occasionally) and suggesting a slightly higher frequency. Often implies something that happens just often enough to be noticeable. Used in both spoken and written registers. Very similar to 时常 but less regular, and to 有时 but implying recurrence rather than possibility.

Examples

1. 他虽然已经移居海外多年，但仍时不时地通过社交媒体发布一些关于故乡风土人情的感怀文字。 Although he has lived overseas for many years, he still posts from time to time on social media about the customs and everyday life of his hometown.
2. 这台老式打印机时不时会出现卡纸的问题，让办公室员工颇感苦恼，几次提出更换都未获批准。 This old-fashioned printer occasionally jams, which has been a real headache for the office staff; they’ve asked several times to replace it, but it still hasn’t been approved.
3. 两人相识已久，即便各自工作繁忙，也会时不时约在老地方喝茶叙旧。 They’ve known each other for a long time, and even though they’re both busy with work, they still meet up from time to time at their old spot for tea and to catch up.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, description, narrative

Tone: casual to neutral

Do Say

• 工厂的老设备时不时出现故障，维修费用逐年攀升，管理层开始认真考虑引进新型自动化生产线以彻底解决问题。(The factory's ageing equipment breaks down from time to time, and maintenance costs have been climbing year by year; management has begun seriously considering introducing a new automated production line to fundamentally resolve the issue.)
• 她退休之后生活悠闲，时不时去老年活动中心下棋或练习书法，精神状态比在职时好了许多。(After retiring, her life became leisurely; every now and then she would go to the senior citizens' activity centre to play chess or practise calligraphy, and her mental state was much better than when she was working.)

Don't Say

• 时不时 when the action happens on a strictly regular schedule — use 定期 (regularly/periodically) or 每隔…一次 (once every…); 时不时 specifically implies irregular, spontaneous recurrence

Origin & History

时 (time) + 不时 (at irregular times — not at fixed times)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal