时而…时而…
now A, now B
Structure
时而 A ， 时而 B
What it means
Now A, now B: two states or actions keep taking turns.
How it is built
时而 + A，时而 + B: 这几天的天气时而晴，时而雨 (Over the last few days the weather has been now fine, now wet).
When to use it
The written form of 一会儿…一会儿… and 有时…有时…, used in narration and description. A single 时而 means “from time to time”: 他时而抬头看看窗外.
Watch out
A and B should be the same kind of thing, usually a contrast: ✗ 他时而高兴，时而吃饭 ✓ 他时而高兴，时而难过. In chat, 一会儿…一会儿… sounds more natural.
Examples
国民党与共产党时而合作，时而对立。
The Nationalists and Communists were now allies, now opponents.
这几天的天气时而晴，时而雨。
Over the last few days the weather has been now fine, now wet.
Learn this in Lesson 81 · HSK 6–7: 从鸦片战争到1949 (From the Opium War to 1949)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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