时 (shí) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 时 (shí) mean in Chinese?

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

Q: How do you write 时 stroke by stroke?

时 has 7 strokes. The radical is 日. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 时 and 旦?

时 (shí) and 旦 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 时?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 日. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

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.

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.

Meaning & Pronunciation

时 is pronounced shí in Mandarin Chinese. It means time; hour; period.

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

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

旦 dàn

旧 jiù

旨 zhǐ

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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Frequently Asked Questions about 时

What does 时 (shí) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 时 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 时 and 旦?

What mistakes do learners make writing 时?

What common words use 时?

How to Write 时 (shí)