时 A 时 B
sometimes A, sometimes B: alternating again and again
Structure
主语 时 A 时 B
What it means
Sometimes A, sometimes B: something keeps swinging back and forth over time.
How it is built
Subject + 时 + A + 时 + B, with A and B a pair of one-syllable opposites: 山里的手机信号时有时无 (in the mountains the phone signal comes and goes).
When to use it
Compact and written; the phrase works as the predicate. Common pairs: 多／少, 快／慢, 高／低, 冷／热, 断／续. Some pairs have set into words: 时好时坏 (lesson 8-8).
Watch out
No 很 and no two-syllable words inside: ✗ 时很高时很低 ✓ 时高时低. For longer phrases use 时而…时而…: 他时而抬头看看窗外，时而低头写几个字.
Examples
旺季前后，园区的人数时多时少。
Around the peak season, the head count on the campus keeps rising and falling.
山里的手机信号时有时无，打电话常常断。
In the mountains the phone signal comes and goes, and calls often drop.
他的情绪时好时坏，家人都很担心。
His mood swings between good and bad, and his family are very worried.
Learn this in Lesson 181 · HSK 7–9: 流水线上 (On the assembly line)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. This lesson is free.
Open the lesson →