yǒushí: 有时 - Sometimes, At Times

• Keywords: youshi, you shi, 有时,有时候, how to say sometimes in Chinese, adverb of frequency, Chinese grammar, HSK 3, occasionally in Chinese, at times, Chinese vocabulary
• Summary: Learn how to use “有时” (yǒushí), the essential Chinese word for “sometimes”. This guide breaks down its meaning, cultural nuances, and practical usage with over 10 example sentences. Master the difference between “有时” and “有时候” and avoid common mistakes English speakers make. Perfect for HSK 3 students and beginners looking to express frequency in Chinese conversations.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yǒushí
• Part of Speech: Adverb (of frequency)
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: It indicates that an action or situation occurs on some occasions but not all; sometimes.
• In a Nutshell: “有时” is your go-to word for “sometimes.” It's a simple and direct way to talk about things that don't happen “always” or “never.” Think of it as describing the gray area of frequency, perfect for talking about habits, weather, or moods that aren't constant.

• 有 (yǒu): This character's primary meaning is “to have” or “there is/are.” It originally depicted a hand holding a piece of meat, symbolizing possession or existence.
• 时 (shí): This character means “time,” “moment,” or “o'clock.” It's composed of 日 (rì), meaning “sun,” and 寸 (cùn), a phonetic component that also relates to an ancient measurement, suggesting the passage of time as measured by the sun.
• Combined Meaning: The two characters literally translate to “have time” or “there are times.” This logically extends to mean that “there are times when” something happens, which is precisely the meaning of “sometimes.”

While “有时” is a straightforward adverb, its frequent use touches upon a subtle aspect of Chinese communication: the preference for nuance over absolutes. In many Western cultures, there can be a drive for definitive answers (“Do you always do this?”). In contrast, Chinese communication often embraces flexibility and acknowledges exceptions. Using “有时” allows a speaker to be precise without being rigid. It avoids making absolute claims, which can be seen as overly strong or even confrontational. For example, instead of saying “I don't like spicy food” (a strong, absolute statement), a person might say “我有时不吃辣” (Wǒ yǒushí bù chī là) - “I sometimes don't eat spicy food.” This softens the statement, leaving room for exceptions and appearing more agreeable and less dogmatic. It reflects a worldview where situations are often fluid and context-dependent.

“有时” is extremely common in daily conversation, writing, and even on social media. Its usage is quite flexible.

• Sentence Position: It is typically placed after the subject and before the verb. The standard structure is: Subject + 有时 + Verb Phrase.
• “Sometimes… Other times…” Structure: A very common and useful pattern is 有时 A, 有时 B (yǒushí A, yǒushí B), meaning “Sometimes it's A, and other times it's B.” This is perfect for describing variability.
• Formality: “有时” is neutral in formality. It's perfectly acceptable in both casual conversation with friends and in more formal written contexts. Its close synonym, `有时候 (yǒude shíhou)`, is slightly more common in colloquial speech, but they are largely interchangeable.

• Example 1:
  • 他有时会迟到。
  • Pinyin: Tā yǒushí huì chídào.
  • English: He is sometimes late.
  • Analysis: A simple, neutral statement about someone's habit. `有时` is placed directly before the verb phrase `会迟到`.
• Example 2:
  • 我有时早上喝咖啡，有时喝茶。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yǒushí zǎoshang hē kāfēi, yǒushí hē chá.
  • English: I sometimes drink coffee in the morning, and other times I drink tea.
  • Analysis: This showcases the powerful “有时…, 有时…” structure to contrast two different possibilities.
• Example 3:
  • 北京的冬天有时会下雪。
  • Pinyin: Běijīng de dōngtiān yǒushí huì xià xuě.
  • English: It sometimes snows in Beijing during the winter.
  • Analysis: Used here to describe an irregular natural phenomenon.
• Example 4:
  • 虽然工作很忙，但他有时也去健身房。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán gōngzuò hěn máng, dàn tā yǒushí yě qù jiànshēnfáng.
  • English: Although work is very busy, he sometimes goes to the gym too.
  • Analysis: This example shows `有时` used in a more complex sentence with `虽然…但是…` (although…but…).
• Example 5:
  • 这个孩子很安静，但有时也特别淘气。
  • Pinyin: Zhège háizi hěn ānjìng, dàn yǒushí yě tèbié táoqì.
  • English: This child is very quiet, but sometimes he is also especially naughty.
  • Analysis: Perfect for describing a personality that has different sides.
• Example 6:
  • 我们周末有时看电影，有时去公园散步。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen zhōumò yǒushí kàn diànyǐng, yǒushí qù gōngyuán sànbù.
  • English: On weekends, we sometimes watch a movie, and other times we go for a walk in the park.
  • Analysis: Another great example of the “sometimes A, other times B” pattern for describing weekend activities.
• Example 7:
  • 独自生活有时会觉得有点孤单。
  • Pinyin: Dúzì shēnghuó yǒushí huì juéde yǒudiǎn gūdān.
  • English: Living alone can sometimes feel a bit lonely.
  • Analysis: Here, `有时` is used to express a feeling that occurs intermittently.
• Example 8:
  • 学习一门新语言有时很难，但非常有意思。
  • Pinyin: Xuéxí yī mén xīn yǔyán yǒushí hěn nán, dàn fēicháng yǒu yìsi.
  • English: Learning a new language is sometimes difficult, but it's very interesting.
  • Analysis: Acknowledges a challenge without making it seem like an insurmountable, permanent state.
• Example 9:
  • 他看起来很高兴，但有时我能感觉到他的压力。
  • Pinyin: Tā kànqǐlái hěn gāoxìng, dàn yǒushí wǒ néng gǎnjué dào tā de yālì.
  • English: He looks very happy, but sometimes I can feel his stress.
  • Analysis: `有时` is used to describe an occasional perception or feeling about someone else.
• Example 10:
  • 这里的网络有时不太稳定。
  • Pinyin: Zhèlǐ de wǎngluò yǒushí bù tài wěndìng.
  • English: The internet connection here is sometimes not very stable.
  • Analysis: A practical sentence for daily life, describing an inconsistent state. `有时` is placed before the negative adverb `不`.

• “有时” (yǒushí) vs. “有时候” (yǒude shíhou):
  • These two terms are almost perfectly interchangeable and mean “sometimes.”
  • `有时候` is slightly more colloquial and common in spoken language.
  • `有时` is a bit more concise and can feel slightly more formal or literary, but it's also used constantly in speech.
  • Rule of Thumb: You can use them interchangeably without any issue. Beginners can stick with `有时候` as it's very common, but it's crucial to recognize `有时`.
• “False Friend” Alert: “Sometimes” vs. “Sometime”:
  • In English, “sometimes” (frequency) and “sometime” (an unspecified point in time) are different. This distinction is crucial in Chinese.
  • `有时` only means “sometimes” (frequency).
  • To say “sometime” (e.g., “Let's meet up sometime”), you should use phrases like `改天 (gǎitiān)` meaning “another day” or `有空的时候 (yǒu kòng de shíhou)` meaning “when there's free time.”
  • Incorrect Usage: `我们有时见面吧。` (Wǒmen yǒushí jiànmiàn ba.) This sounds like “Let's sometimes meet,” which is awkward.
  • Correct Usage: `我们改天见面吧。` (Wǒmen gǎitiān jiànmiàn ba.) - “Let's meet up another day/sometime.”

• 有时候 (yǒude shíhou) - The most direct synonym for `有时`, slightly more common in spoken Chinese.
• 偶尔 (ǒu'ěr) - Occasionally; once in a while. Implies a lower frequency than `有时`. If `有时` is 30-40% of the time, `偶尔` might be 10-20%.
• 常常 (chángcháng) - Often; frequently. An antonym of `有时` in terms of frequency.
• 经常 (jīngcháng) - Often; frequently. A synonym for `常常`.
• 总是 (zǒngshì) - Always. The highest frequency adverb, a direct antonym.
• 从来不 (cónglái bù) - Never (when talking about the present/past). The complete opposite of `总是`.
• 不时 (bùshí) - From time to time; frequently. A bit more formal or literary than `有时` or `常常`.
• 有时...有时... (yǒushí… yǒushí…) - The specific grammar pattern meaning “sometimes… other times…”, crucial for expressing variation.