时A时B
sometimes A, sometimes B; now A, now B
Structure
时 A 时 B
What it means
Sometimes A, sometimes B: two states keep taking turns. A written four-character frame.
How it is built
时 + A + 时 + B, with one-syllable opposites or a verb pair: 天气时冷时热 (the weather is cold one day, hot the next). Common sets: 时好时坏, 时高时低, 时快时慢, 时有时无, 时隐时现, 时断时续.
When to use it
Calmer than 忽A忽B (6-18): 忽 stresses sudden, unpredictable swings, 时 simply that the states alternate. For longer parts use 时而A，时而B (4-7): 他时而看看窗外，时而低头写几个字.
Watch out
Do not squeeze two-syllable words into the frame: ✗时高兴时难过 ✓时而高兴，时而难过.
Examples
那姑娘在雨中时隐时现，像梦一样飘过。
The girl flickers in and out of sight in the rain and drifts past like a dream.
这几天天气时冷时热，很容易感冒。
The weather has been cold one day and hot the next; it is easy to catch a cold.
老人的记性时好时坏，有时连孙子的名字都想不起来。
The old man’s memory comes and goes; sometimes he cannot even remember his grandson’s name.
Learn this in Lesson 225 · HSK 9+: 新诗一百年 (A century of modern poetry)
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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