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

HSK 4

他的身体时好时坏，让家人很担心。

Tā de shēntǐ shíhǎo-shíhuài, ràng jiārén hěn dānxīn.

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

HSK 4

最近天气时好时坏，出门要带伞。

Zuìjìn tiānqì shíhǎo-shíhuài, 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