不时

不時

bùshí

adverb HSK 5 #11,450

Meanings

1 from time to time
2 now and then
3 occasionally

Characters

Examples

他不时地看看手表。

Tā bù shí de kàn kan shǒubiǎo.

He glanced at his watch from time to time.

窗外不时传来鸟叫声。

Chuāng wài bù shí chuán lái niǎo jiào shēng.

Bird calls came from outside the window now and then.

我们不时会联系。

Wǒmen bù shí huì liánxì.

We keep in touch from time to time.

Tips

usage

不时 is slightly more literary than 有时候 (yǒu shíhou, sometimes). It emphasizes irregular, unpredictable intervals.

Stroke Order

不 bù

时 shí