时好时坏

時好時壞

shíhǎo-shíhuài

idiom HSK 7-9

Meanings

1 sometimes good, sometimes bad
2 on and off
3 unstable

Characters

Literally 'sometimes good, sometimes bad'

Examples

他的身体时好时坏，让家人很担心。

Tā de shēntǐ shíhǎoshíhuài, ràng jiārén hěn dānxīn.

His health is on and off, which worries his family.

最近天气时好时坏，出门要带伞。

Zuìjìn tiānqì shíhǎoshíhuài, chūmén yào dài sǎn.

The weather has been unpredictable lately, so bring an umbrella when going out.

Tips

grammar

Follows the pattern 时A时B (sometimes A, sometimes B). Similar structures: 时快时慢 (sometimes fast, sometimes slow), 时大时小 (sometimes big, sometimes small).

memory

Think of a light switch being flipped: 时 (time/sometimes) toggles between 好 (good) and 坏 (bad).

Stroke Order

时 shí

好 hǎo

坏 huài