Tomyo
ruen

How to say “temporary” with 一时 and “once” with 一度

一时 (yìshí): temporary (moment) / 一度 (yídù): once (period in past)

一时 (yī shí) vs 一度 (yī dù) — temporary vs once

HSK 6Adverbs

Rule structure

一时 (yìshí) means "for a short while" or "temporary." 一度 (yídù) means "once in the past" or "at one time."

Examples

他一时冲动买了很多东西。 / 这个词一度很流行。

Tā yìshí chōngdòng mǎi le hěn duō dōngxi. / Zhège cí yídù hěn liúxíng.

He bought many things on impulse. / This word was once popular.

Practice

Build the sentence

Drag the characters to put them in the correct order

Characters

Words from this rule

一

yī

One, 1

时

shí

Time

一度

yí dù

Once, at one time, formerly

他

tā

He

冲动

chōng dòng

Impulse, urge

买

mǎi

To buy

了

le

Particle (completed action or change of state)

很

hěn

Very

多

duō

Many, much, more

东西

dōngxi

Thing, things, object

这个

zhè ge

This, this one

词

cí

Word

Frequently asked questions

How do you say “temporary vs once” in Chinese with 一时 vs 一度?

Use the structure: 一时 (yìshí): temporary (moment) / 一度 (yídù): once (period in past). For example: 他一时冲动买了很多东西。 / 这个词一度很流行。 — “He bought many things on impulse. / This word was once popular”.

What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?

他一时冲动买了很多东西。 / 这个词一度很流行。 — “He bought many things on impulse. / This word was once popular”.

Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?

This grammar rule is part of HSK 6.

Tomyo

Learn Chinese grammar with smart reviews

Grammar explanations, exercises and spaced repetition — all in one app.

Download the app

More HSK 6 grammar rules

无非 — nothing but

无非 (wúfēi) + Noun / Clause (dismissive)

凡是 — all, every

凡是 (fánshì) + Noun Phrase, 都 (dōu) + Verb

恢复 vs 还原 — restore vs return to original

恢复 (huīfù): restore (state, function) / 还原 (huányuán): restore to original state

居然 vs 反而 — unexpected vs on the contrary

居然 (jūrán): unexpectedly (surprise) / 反而 (fǎn'ér): on the contrary

再…也 — no matter how

再 (zài) + Adj., 也 (yě) + Result

何必 — why bother

何必 (hébì) + Verb Phrase (rhetorical, unnecessary)

不断 vs 不停 — continuous vs nonstop

不断 (bùduàn) + Verb (continuous, unceasing) / 不停 (bùtíng) + Verb (incessant, nonstop)

按照 vs 根据 — according to vs based on

按照 (ànzhào) + Rule / Standard (follow) / 根据 (gēnjù) + Basis / Source (based on)