shěng shí: 省时 - To Save Time, Time-Saving

• Keywords: shěng shí, 省时, save time in Chinese, time-saving in Chinese, how to say efficient in Chinese, 省时 meaning, Chinese word for efficiency, Chinese for practical, HSK 4 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn how to say “save time” or “time-saving” in Chinese with the essential term 省时 (shěng shí). This page breaks down its meaning, cultural significance in modern, fast-paced China, and practical usage. With numerous example sentences and analysis, you'll understand how 省时 is used to describe everything from apps and transportation to daily life hacks, and learn its subtle differences from related words like 方便 (fāngbiàn) and 效率 (xiàolǜ).

• Pinyin (with tone marks): shěng shí
• Part of Speech: Verb-Object Compound (often used as a verb or adjective)
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To save time; to be time-saving.
• In a Nutshell: 省时 (shěng shí) is a highly practical and common term used to describe any action, tool, or method that reduces the amount of time needed to complete a task. It's the go-to word for anything you'd call “time-saving” in English, from taking a shortcut to using a high-efficiency appliance.

• 省 (shěng): The core meaning here is “to save” or “to economize”. It's the same character used in words like 省钱 (shěng qián - to save money) and 省力 (shěng lì - to save effort).
• 时 (shí): This character means “time” or “hour”, as seen in 时间 (shíjiān - time) and 小时 (xiǎoshí - hour).
• The combination is perfectly logical and transparent: 省 (to save) + 时 (time) = 省时 (to save time).

In a country that has undergone decades of rapid development, efficiency is a paramount value in modern Chinese society. 省时 (shěng shí) is more than just a literal translation of “time-saving”; it reflects a deeply ingrained mindset of practicality and a constant search for optimization in daily life. Unlike the Western aphorism “time is money,” which often has a strong capitalist or business connotation, 省时 is applied to all facets of life. It’s about reducing friction and hassle. This value is evident in the explosive growth of e-commerce, food delivery apps (外卖 wàimài), and the world's most extensive high-speed rail network. Choosing to order food online isn't just about convenience (方便 fāngbiàn); it's fundamentally about being 省时—saving the time you would have spent grocery shopping, cooking, and cleaning up. This allows for more time to be dedicated to work, study, or leisure in a highly competitive and fast-paced environment. The concept is often bundled with its cousins, 省事 (shěng shì - to save trouble) and 省力 (shěng lì - to save effort), forming a trifecta of practical efficiency.

省时 is an incredibly versatile word used in both casual conversation and more formal contexts. It can function as a verb phrase or as an adjective describing a noun.

• As an Adjective: It's frequently used to describe a product, method, or service. In this structure, it is often preceded by an adverb like 很 (hěn - very) or 非常 (fēicháng - extremely).
  • “This new app is very time-saving.”
  • “Taking the subway is a time-saving choice.”
• As a Verb Phrase: It can be used as the objective of a sentence, often following a phrase like 为了 (wèile - in order to).
  • “In order to save time, we took a taxi.” (为了省时，我们打了车。)

It carries a universally positive connotation. Highlighting that something is 省时 is a strong selling point in marketing and a common piece of advice in daily conversation.

• Example 1:
  • 网上购物又省时又省力。
  • Pinyin: Wǎngshàng gòuwù yòu shěng shí yòu shěng lì.
  • English: Online shopping is both time-saving and labor-saving.
  • Analysis: This is a classic construction. The 又…又… (yòu…yòu…) pattern means “both…and…”, perfectly pairing two key benefits.
• Example 2:
  • 为了省时，我们还是坐高铁吧。
  • Pinyin: Wèile shěng shí, wǒmen háishì zuò gāotiě ba.
  • English: In order to save time, let's just take the high-speed train.
  • Analysis: Here, 为了 (wèile) establishes 省时 as the goal of the action. This is a very common way to structure a sentence around this term.
• Example 3:
  • 这个新发明的厨房工具非常省时。
  • Pinyin: Zhège xīn fāmíng de chúfáng gōngjù fēicháng shěng shí.
  • English: This newly invented kitchen tool is extremely time-saving.
  • Analysis: 省时 is used here as a simple adjective, modified by the adverb 非常 (fēicháng - extremely), to describe the tool.
• Example 4:
  • 你有没有什么省时的好办法？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ yǒu méiyǒu shénme shěng shí de hǎo bànfǎ?
  • English: Do you have any good time-saving methods?
  • Analysis: The particle 的 (de) connects the adjectival phrase 省时 to the noun 办法 (bànfǎ - method).
• Example 5:
  • 把蔬菜提前切好可以省不少时间。
  • Pinyin: Bǎ shūcài tíqián qiē hǎo kěyǐ shěng bùshǎo shíjiān.
  • English: Cutting the vegetables in advance can save a lot of time.
  • Analysis: This example shows the verb 省 (shěng) and the noun 时间 (shíjiān) being separated. This structure, “省 + [adjective] + 时间”, is very common and flexible.
• Example 6:
  • 他选择了一条更省时的路线去公司。
  • Pinyin: Tā xuǎnzéle yī tiáo gèng shěng shí de lùxiàn qù gōngsī.
  • English: He chose a more time-saving route to the office.
  • Analysis: The adverb 更 (gèng) means “more”, used here to make a comparison between different routes.
• Example 7:
  • 使用模板可以大大省时。
  • Pinyin: Shǐyòng móbǎn kěyǐ dàdà shěng shí.
  • English: Using a template can greatly save time.
  • Analysis: 大大 (dàdà) is an adverb meaning “greatly” or “significantly,” emphasizing the degree of time saved.
• Example 8:
  • 虽然坐飞机比较贵，但是很省时。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán zuò fēijī bǐjiào guì, dànshì hěn shěng shí.
  • English: Although flying is relatively expensive, it's very time-saving.
  • Analysis: The 虽然…但是… (suīrán…dànshì…) structure presents a contrast, a common real-world consideration when choosing between cost and time.
• Example 9:
  • 为了省时，会议内容我们长话短说。
  • Pinyin: Wèile shěng shí, huìyì nèiróng wǒmen cháng huà duǎn shuō.
  • English: To save time, let's make the meeting content brief (literally: long story short).
  • Analysis: This example pairs 省时 with a relevant Chengyu (idiom), 长话短说 (cháng huà duǎn shuō), showing how the concept is integrated into communication strategies.
• Example 10:
  • 这种半成品菜肴对忙碌的上班族来说特别省时。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng bànchéngpǐn càiyáo duì mánglù de shàngbānzú lái shuō tèbié shěng shí.
  • English: These pre-prepared dishes are especially time-saving for busy office workers.
  • Analysis: The phrase 对…来说 (duì…lái shuō) means “for…” or “from the perspective of…”, specifying for whom something is time-saving.

A common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 省时 (shěng shí) and 节约时间 (jiéyuē shíjiān).

• 省时 (shěng shí): More colloquial, often used as an adjective. It describes the quality of a thing or an action. It's about inherent efficiency.
  • Correct: 这个方法很省时。 (Zhège fāngfǎ hěn shěng shí.) - This method is very time-saving.
  • Less Common: 这个方法很节约时间。 (Grammatically okay, but sounds a bit stiff and less natural).
• 节约时间 (jiéyuē shíjiān): More formal, a verb phrase. It refers to the act of conserving time as a resource. It's often used as a command or a statement of purpose.
  • Correct: 我们必须节约时间。 (Wǒmen bìxū jiéyuē shíjiān.) - We must save (conserve) time.
  • Incorrect: 我们必须省时。 (This is grammatically incomplete and awkward).

Mistake to Avoid: Do not use 省时 to mean “saving someone from wasting their time”. If you want to say “Don't waste my time,” you should say 别浪费我的时间 (Bié làngfèi wǒ de shíjiān), not 省我的时. 省时 is about a process being efficient, not about one person's actions toward another's time.

• 省事 (shěng shì) - To save trouble/hassle. Often, something that is 省时 is also 省事.
• 省力 (shěng lì) - To save effort/labor. The third member of the “efficiency trio” with 省时 and 省事.
• 方便 (fāngbiàn) - Convenient. Convenience is a primary reason why something is time-saving.
• 效率 (xiàolǜ) - Efficiency. 省时 describes a quality that leads to high 效率.
• 耗时 (hàoshí) - Time-consuming. A direct antonym of 省时.
• 快捷 (kuàijié) - Fast and convenient; speedy. A close synonym that emphasizes speed.
• 浪费 (làngfèi) - To waste. The opposite action of 省 (to save). You can 浪费时间 (làngfèi shíjiān - waste time).
• 节约 (jiéyuē) - To conserve; to economize. A more formal verb for saving resources like time, money, or water.