nà shí: 那时 - At that time, Then [Contextual Chinese Dictionary]

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====== nà shí: 那时 - At that time, Then ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** nashi, na shi, 那时, at that time in Chinese, how to say then in Chinese, Chinese time words, Chinese past tense, nashi meaning, 当时 vs 那时, 那个时候, Chinese grammar, learning Chinese
  * **Summary:** "那时" (nà shí) is an essential Chinese time word that translates to "at that time" or "back then." It's used to point to a specific moment or period in the past, often to set the scene for a story, share a memory, or contrast the past with the present. Understanding how to use "那时" is key for narrative storytelling in Mandarin and for discussing past events with a sense of reminiscence. This page explores its core meaning, cultural context, and practical differences from similar words like "当时" (dāng shí).
===== Core Meaning =====
<hanziwriter>那时</hanziwriter>
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** nà shí
  * **Part of Speech:** Time Noun / Adverbial Phrase
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 3
  * **Concise Definition:** A phrase used to refer to a specific point or period of time in the past; "at that time," "back then."
  * **In a Nutshell:** Think of "那时" as a verbal time machine. It's the word you use to transport your listener back to a specific past context you've already established. It's a storyteller's tool, perfect for starting a sentence like, "Back then, we didn't have smartphones..." It creates a sense of distance and nostalgia, pointing to "that time" which is separate and distinct from the present moment.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **那 (nà):** This character means "that" or "those." It's a demonstrative pronoun used to point to something that is far away, either in physical space or, in this case, in time.
  * **时 (shí):** This character means "time," "moment," or "hour." Its original form depicted the sun's movement, symbolizing the passage of time.
  * When combined, 那时 (nà shí) literally translates to "that time." It's a simple and intuitive construction that directly points to a past moment or era.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
"那时" is more than just a time marker; it's a key to unlocking nostalgia and shared memory. In Chinese culture, where storytelling and recounting history are highly valued, "那时" serves as a classic opening phrase to signal a shift into a reflective or narrative mode.
  * **The Power of Reminiscence:** Using "那时" often evokes a sense of nostalgia (怀旧, huáijiù). It's the verbal equivalent of looking at an old, sepia-toned photograph. When an elder begins a story with "**那时**我们...", it immediately captures the listener's attention, signaling that a lesson or a piece of personal history is about to be shared.
  * **Contrast with Western "Then":** In English, "then" can be very sequential ("I went to the store, then I went home"). While "那时" can mean "then," it's rarely used for simple, immediate sequences. Instead, it's more like "at that time" or "back in those days." It establishes a whole scene or period as the backdrop for the events that follow, rather than just marking the next step in a sequence. For sequential actions, Chinese speakers are more likely to use [[然后]] (ránhòu).
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
"那时" is a common word used in both everyday conversation and more formal writing. Its usage is generally neutral and depends on the context of the story being told.
  * **Storytelling & Sharing Memories:** This is the most common use. Friends, family, and colleagues use it to talk about their past experiences.
    * //"那时我还是个学生，什么都不懂。"// (Nà shí wǒ háishì ge xuéshēng, shénme dōu bù dǒng.) - "At that time I was still a student and didn't know anything."
  * **Historical Accounts:** In documentaries, books, and articles, "那时" is used to refer to a specific historical period that has just been introduced.
    * //"1980年，中国开始了改革开放。那时，深圳还是一个小渔村。"// (Yījiǔbālíng nián, Zhōngguó kāishǐle gǎigé kāifàng. Nà shí, Shēnzhèn háishì yīgè xiǎo yú cūn.) - "In 1980, China began its Reform and Opening Up. At that time, Shenzhen was still a small fishing village."
  * **Contrasting Past and Present:** It is frequently used to highlight how much things have changed.
    * //"你看现在到处都是高楼大厦，可那时这里全都是农田。"// (Nǐ kàn xiànzài dàochù dōu shì gāolóu dàshà, kě nà shí zhèlǐ quán dōu shì nóngtián.) - "Look, now there are skyscrapers everywhere, but back then this whole area was farmland."
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 我五岁的时候住在乡下，**那时**的天空特别蓝。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ wǔ suì de shíhou zhù zài xiāngxià, **nà shí** de tiānkōng tèbié lán.
    * English: When I was five, I lived in the countryside. The sky at that time was especially blue.
    * Analysis: "那时" here refers back to the period "when I was five." It sets a nostalgic scene.
  * **Example 2:**
    * A: 我们是2010年认识的吧？ (Wǒmen shì èr líng yī líng nián rènshi de ba?) - We met in 2010, right?
    * B: 对，**那时**你还在上海工作。 (Duì, **nà shí** nǐ hái zài Shànghǎi gōngzuò.) - Right, you were still working in Shanghai at that time.
    * Analysis: Here, "那时" refers to the specific, agreed-upon time (2010) and adds more context about that period.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 我刚来中国的时候，中文说得不好，**那时**常常闹笑话。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ gāng lái Zhōngguó de shíhou, Zhōngwén shuō de bù hǎo, **nà shí** chángcháng nào xiàohuà.
    * English: When I first came to China, my Chinese wasn't good. Back then, I often made embarrassing mistakes.
    * Analysis: This is a classic storytelling structure. The first clause sets the time frame, and "那时" reinforces it to introduce a specific detail or anecdote.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 爷爷说，**那时**没有手机，人们通过写信来联系。
    * Pinyin: Yéye shuō, **nà shí** méiyǒu shǒujī, rénmen tōngguò xiě xìn lái liánxì.
    * English: Grandpa said that back then there were no cell phones, and people contacted each other by writing letters.
    * Analysis: "那时" is used to describe a general past era, contrasting it with the modern day.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 虽然**那时**的生活很艰苦，但我们都觉得很幸福。
    * Pinyin: Suīrán **nà shí** de shēnghuó hěn jiānkǔ, dàn wǒmen dōu juéde hěn xìngfú.
    * English: Although life at that time was very hard, we all felt very happy.
    * Analysis: "那时" can refer to a period characterized by certain conditions, such as hardship.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 你还记得吗？**那时**我们经常一起去图书馆。
    * Pinyin: Nǐ hái jìde ma? **Nà shí** wǒmen jīngcháng yīqǐ qù túshūguǎn.
    * English: Do you still remember? We used to go to the library together all the time back then.
    * Analysis: A common way to start a reminiscent question to a friend.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 我找到了我十年前的照片，**那时**我真瘦啊！
    * Pinyin: Wǒ zhǎodàole wǒ shí nián qián de zhàopiàn, **nà shí** wǒ zhēn shòu a!
    * English: I found a photo of myself from ten years ago. I was so thin at that time!
    * Analysis: A spontaneous exclamation upon being reminded of a past state.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 很多人怀念上世纪90年代，认为**那时**的机会更多。
    * Pinyin: Hěn duō rén huáiniàn shàng shìjì jiǔshí niándài, rènwéi **nà shí** de jīhuì gèng duō.
    * English: Many people are nostalgic for the 1990s, believing there were more opportunities at that time.
    * Analysis: Used to talk about a specific historical decade.
  * **Example 9:**
    * **那时**谁能想到，互联网会如此深刻地改变我们的生活？
    * Pinyin: **Nà shí** shéi néng xiǎngdào, hùliánwǎng huì rúcǐ shēnkè de gǎibiàn wǒmen de shēnghuó?
    * English: Who could have imagined at that time that the internet would change our lives so profoundly?
    * Analysis: A rhetorical question used to emphasize the magnitude of change over time.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 电影的背景是二战时期，**那时**的人们都生活在恐惧中。
    * Pinyin: Diànyǐng de bèijǐng shì èrzhàn shíqī, **nà shí** de rénmen dōu shēnghuó zài kǒngjù zhōng.
    * English: The movie is set during World War II; people at that time all lived in fear.
    * Analysis: Used in a formal or descriptive context to provide information about a historical period.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
The biggest challenge for learners is distinguishing "那时" from the very similar term "当时" (dāng shí). They can sometimes be interchangeable, but they have a key difference in focus.
  * **那时 (nà shí) vs. 当时 (dāng shí):**
    * **那时 (nà shí): "At that time" (General Period).** Refers to a general period in the past. It sets a scene. It feels more detached and looks back at a block of time.
    * **当时 (dāng shí): "At the time" / "Right then" (Specific Moment).** Refers to the specific moment an event occurred. It's more immediate and focused on the circumstances surrounding a single action.
    * **Incorrect Usage Example:**
      * //我昨天到他家时，他正在做饭。~~那时~~他看起来很忙。//
      * (Wǒ zuótiān dào tā jiā shí, tā zhèngzài zuòfàn. ~~Nà shí~~ tā kànqǐlái hěn máng.)
      * **Why it's wrong:** "那时" creates too much distance. It sounds like you're talking about a bygone era, not the specific moment you arrived yesterday.
      * **Correct Usage:** 我昨天到他家时，他正在做饭。**当时**他看起来很忙。 (Wǒ zuótiān dào tā jiā shí, tā zhèngzài zuòfàn. **Dāng shí** tā kànqǐlái hěn máng.) - "When I arrived at his house yesterday, he was cooking. He looked very busy *at that moment*."
  * **那时 (nà shí) vs. 那个时候 (nà ge shíhou):**
    * These two are very close in meaning and are often interchangeable.
    * **那个时候 (nà ge shíhou)** is more colloquial and common in spoken language.
    * **那时 (nà shí)** is slightly more concise and can sound a bit more written or formal, though it's also very common in speech. You can't go wrong using either in most conversational contexts.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[当时]] (dāng shí) - Its closest counterpart. Means "at the time" or "at that very moment," focusing on the specific instance an action occurred.
  * [[那个时候]] (nà ge shíhou) - A more colloquial and very common synonym for 那时.
  * [[那时起]] (nà shí qǐ) - A useful extension meaning "from that time on" or "ever since then."
  * [[后来]] (hòu lái) - Means "afterwards" or "later." It's used to describe a sequence of events in the past, not to set a scene.
  * [[以前]] (yǐ qián) - A general term for "before" or "in the past." It's much broader than 那时. (e.g., 以前我住在这里 - I used to live here.)
  * [[过去]] (guò qù) - Means "the past" as a noun. It refers to the past as a whole concept. (e.g., 忘记过去 - Forget the past.)
  * [[这时]] (zhè shí) - The opposite of 那时, meaning "at this time" or "right now."
  * [[当年]] (dāng nián) - Means "in those years" or "back in that year." It carries a strong sense of nostalgia, often referring to a significant year in the past.