How to Write 时 (shí) — Meaning “time; hour; period”

Q: What is a good memory trick to remember the character 时?

Think of the sun (日) moving slowly like an inchworm (寸) across the sky, marking the passage of time. This image links the two components to the concept of time passing.

Q: Are there any special writing tips or common mistakes when writing 时?

Write the left part 日 narrow and tall, then add 寸 on the right with the dot slightly above the middle. A common mistake is making 日 too wide or placing the 寸 dot too low, which ruins the balance.

Q: How can I tell 时 apart from the similar characters 旦 and 旧?

时 has 日 on the left and 寸 on the right (time). 旦 (dàn, dawn) has 日 above a horizontal line. 旧 (jiù, old) has a vertical stroke on the left and 日 on the right. Their shapes and meanings are distinct.

Q: In what situations do Chinese speakers commonly use the character 时?

时 appears in everyday words like 时间 (time), 时候 (moment), and 小时 (hour). You'll use it when asking for the time, talking about schedules, or referring to a specific period.

Q: What common words use 时?

Common words containing 时 include: 时间 (shí jiān) — Time.; 时候 (shí hòu) — time; moment; 小时 (xiǎo shí) — hour.

shí HSK Level 1 7 strokes Radical: 日

时 (shí) means "time; hour; period" in Chinese. It has 7 strokes with the radical 日, and is HSK Level 1.

Rated 2.9/5 in difficulty (moderate).

Harder than 56% of HSK Level 1 characters.

Appears in 3+ common words including 时间 (shí jiān), 时候 (shí hòu), 小时 (xiǎo shí).

Hanzi Writer's stroke validation shows learners typically need 5-8 attempts to write 时 with correct proportion and order.

Practice Writing 时 (shí)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 时 with real-time feedback.

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How to Write 时

The character 时 (shí) is written with 7 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 日 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

What Does shí (时) Mean in Chinese?

时 means time; hour; period.

As an HSK Level 1 character, 时 is among the first characters beginners learn.

Character Data

Character	时
Pinyin	shí (shi)
Meaning	time; hour; period
Strokes	7
Radical	日
HSK Level	1
Difficulty	2.9/5

Origin of 时

The character 时 combines 日 (sun) with 寸 (a hand measuring a unit), symbolizing time tracked by the sun's movement across the sky. In its ancient form 時, the right component 寺 also suggested a temple where time was announced. Today, 日 + 寸 visually conveys 'measuring the day.'

💡 Memory Tip: Picture the sun (日) holding a tiny ruler (寸) to measure each hour of the day.

Common Words with 时

时间 shí jiān

Time.

时候 shí hòu

time; moment

小时 xiǎo shí

hour

Example Sentences

我没有时间。

wǒ méi yǒu shí jiān

I don't have time.

你什么时候来？

nǐ shén me shí hòu lái

When are you coming?

我学了一个小时。

wǒ xué le yí gè xiǎo shí

I studied for an hour.

Similar Characters Comparison

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Radical
时 (current)	shí	7	日
旦	dàn	5	日
旧	jiù	5	日
旨	zhǐ	6	日

Practice Writing 时 (shí)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 时 with real-time feedback.

✨ Animated stroke order · Handwriting recognition · HSK-graded practice · Free to use

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Frequently Asked Questions about 时

How is the character 时 broken down, and how do its parts relate to its meaning of 'time'?

时 is composed of the radical 日 (sun) on the left and 寸 (inch, a unit of measure) on the right. Together, they suggest measuring time by the movement of the sun, such as using a sundial.

What is a good memory trick to remember the character 时?

Are there any special writing tips or common mistakes when writing 时?

How can I tell 时 apart from the similar characters 旦 and 旧?

In what situations do Chinese speakers commonly use the character 时?

What common words use 时?

How to Write 时 (shí) — Meaning “time; hour; period”

Practice Writing 时 (shí)

How to Write 时

What Does shí (时) Mean in Chinese?

Character Data

Origin of 时

Common Words with 时

Example Sentences

Similar Characters Comparison

Practice Writing 时 (shí)

Frequently Asked Questions about 时

More HSK Level 1 Characters

Characters with Radical 日

Other 7-Stroke Characters