4 · 41 words

Time and change

How things develop, last, speed up or are put off — and the words for periods and eras.

These words describe how things change over time rather than when they happen. Several are written-style and common in news and reports: 随着(suízhe)“along with”逐渐(zhújiàn)“gradually”目前(mùqián)“at present” Watch 不断(búduàn), which means “again and again, without let-up”, and 世纪(shìjì), which counts as English does: the twenty-first century is 二十一(èrshíyī)世纪(shìjì).

The words

Verb (8)

转变(zhuǎnbiàn)to change; to transform; a changeVerb4

当(dāng)了(le)父亲(fùqīn)以后(yǐhòu)，他(tā)对(duì)工作(gōngzuò)的(de)态度(tàidu)转变(zhuǎnbiàn)了(le)很(hěn)多(duō)。Since he became a father, his attitude to work has changed a great deal.

A change of direction or attitude; 变化(biànhuà) is any change at all.

成为(chéngwéi)to becomeVerb4

她(tā)从(cóng)小(xiǎo)就(jiù)想(xiǎng)成为(chéngwéi)一(yì)名(míng)医生(yīshēng)。Since she was little, she has wanted to become a doctor.

Takes a noun, never an adjective; 为(wéi) has the second tone here.

持续(chíxù)to continue; to lastVerb4

这(zhè)场(cháng)雨(yǔ)持续(chíxù)了(le)整整(zhěngzhěng)一(yí)个(ge)星期(xīngqī)。The rain went on for a whole week.

延长(yáncháng)to extend; to prolongVerb4

因为(yīnwèi)游客(yóukè)多(duō)，博物馆(bówùguǎn)延长(yáncháng)了(le)开放(kāifàng)时间(shíjiān)。Because there are so many visitors, the museum has extended its opening hours.

缩短(suōduǎn)to shortenVerb4

新(xīn)的(de)高铁(gāotiě)把(bǎ)路(lù)上(shàng)的(de)时间(shíjiān)缩短(suōduǎn)了(le)一半(yíbàn)。The new high-speed line has cut the journey time in half.

中断(zhōngduàn)to break off; to be interruptedVerb4

因为(yīnwèi)生病(shēngbìng)，他(tā)的(de)学习(xuéxí)中断(zhōngduàn)了(le)半(bàn)年(nián)。Because of illness, his studies were interrupted for half a year.

延期(yánqī)to postpone; to extend (a deadline)Verb4

签证(qiānzhèng)快(kuài)到期(dàoqī)了(le)，我(wǒ)得(děi)去(qù)申请(shēnqǐng)延期(yánqī)。My visa is about to expire, so I have to apply for an extension.

Both “put off” and “extend”: either way the date moves later.

拖延(tuōyán)to delay; to put offVerb4

有(yǒu)病(bìng)要(yào)早(zǎo)点儿(diǎnr)看(kàn)，不(bù)能(néng)拖延(tuōyán)。If you’re ill you should see a doctor early, not put it off.

Noun (15)

变化(biànhuà)change; to changeNoun3

这(zhè)十(shí)年(nián)我(wǒ)的(de)家乡(jiāxiāng)变化(biànhuà)很(hěn)大(dà)。My home town has changed a lot in the last ten years.

趋势(qūshì)trend; tendencyNoun4

年轻(niánqīng)人(rén)晚(wǎn)结婚(jiéhūn)已经(yǐjīng)成(chéng)了(le)一(yì)种(zhǒng)趋势(qūshì)。Young people marrying later has become a trend.

阶段(jiēduàn)stage; phaseNoun4

这个(zhège)项目(xiàngmù)现在(xiànzài)还(hái)在(zài)第一(dìyī)阶段(jiēduàn)。This project is still in its first stage.

时期(shíqī)period (of time)Noun4

那(nà)是(shì)我(wǒ)一生(yìshēng)中(zhōng)最(zuì)困难(kùnnan)的(de)时期(shíqī)。That was the hardest period of my life.

当代(dāngdài)contemporary; present-dayNoun4

这个(zhège)展览(zhǎnlǎn)介绍(jièshào)的(de)是(shì)当代(dāngdài)艺术(yìshù)。This exhibition is about contemporary art.

世纪(shìjì)centuryNoun4

这(zhè)座(zuò)桥(qiáo)是(shì)上(shàng)个(ge)世纪(shìjì)修(xiū)的(de)。This bridge was built last century.

期间(qījiān)during; periodNoun4

放假(fàngjià)期间(qījiān)图书馆(túshūguǎn)不(bù)开门(kāimén)。The library is closed during the holidays.

周年(zhōunián)anniversaryNoun4

明天(míngtiān)是(shì)我们(wǒmen)结婚(jiéhūn)十(shí)周年(zhōunián)。Tomorrow is our tenth wedding anniversary.

当前(dāngqián)current; at presentNoun4

当前(dāngqián)最(zuì)重要(zhòngyào)的(de)是(shì)把(bǎ)身体(shēntǐ)养好(yǎnghǎo)。What matters most right now is getting your health back.

早期(zǎoqī)early stage; early periodNoun4

这(zhè)种(zhǒng)病(bìng)如果(rúguǒ)早期(zǎoqī)发现(fāxiàn)，是(shì)可以(kěyǐ)治好(zhìhǎo)的(de)。If this illness is caught early, it can be cured.

初期(chūqī)initial stage; early daysNoun4

公司(gōngsī)成立(chénglì)初期(chūqī)，只(zhǐ)有(yǒu)五(wǔ)个(ge)员工(yuángōng)。In its early days the company had only five employees.

时刻(shíkè)moment; at every momentNoun4

那(nà)是(shì)我(wǒ)这(zhè)辈子(bèizi)最(zuì)幸福(xìngfú)的(de)时刻(shíkè)。That was the happiest moment of my life.

As an adverb it means “constantly, at all times”.

片刻(piànkè)a moment; an instantNoun4

请(qǐng)稍(shāo)等(děng)片刻(piànkè)，经理(jīnglǐ)马上(mǎshàng)就(jiù)来(lái)。Please wait a moment; the manager will be right with you.

Formal and polite; in speech 一会儿(yíhuìr).

最初(zuìchū)at first; initialNoun4

最初(zuìchū)我(wǒ)只(zhǐ)想(xiǎng)在(zài)这里(zhèlǐ)住(zhù)一(yì)年(nián)，没想到(méixiǎngdào)一(yí)住(zhù)就(jiù)是(shì)十(shí)年(nián)。At first I only meant to live here for a year; I never expected to stay ten.

后期(hòuqī)later stage; final phaseNoun4

这个(zhège)工程(gōngchéng)到(dào)了(le)后期(hòuqī)，进度(jìndù)明显(míngxiǎn)快(kuài)了(le)。In its later stages the project noticeably sped up.

Adjective (3)

长期(chángqī)long-term; over a long periodAdjective4

长期(chángqī)熬夜(áoyè)对(duì)身体(shēntǐ)很(hěn)不(bù)好(hǎo)。Staying up late over a long period is very bad for your health.

短期(duǎnqī)short-termAdjective4

我(wǒ)在(zài)北京(Běijīng)上(shàng)过(guo)一(yí)个(ge)短期(duǎnqī)汉语(Hànyǔ)班(bān)。I took a short Chinese course in Beijing.

过时(guòshí)out of date; old-fashionedAdjective4

这(zhè)种(zhǒng)手机(shǒujī)早(zǎo)就(jiù)过时(guòshí)了(le)。This kind of phone went out of date long ago.

Adverb (9)

逐渐(zhújiàn)graduallyAdverb4

天(tiān)逐渐(zhújiàn)黑(hēi)了(le)，路(lù)上(shàng)的(de)人(rén)也(yě)少(shǎo)了(le)。It was gradually getting dark, and there were fewer people on the streets.

不断(búduàn)continuously; again and againAdverb4

我们(wǒmen)的(de)生活(shēnghuó)水平(shuǐpíng)在(zài)不断(búduàn)提高(tígāo)。Our standard of living keeps rising.

至今(zhìjīn)to this day; up to nowAdverb4

那(nà)次(cì)旅行(lǚxíng)我(wǒ)至今(zhìjīn)还(hái)记得(jìde)。I still remember that trip to this day.

从此(cóngcǐ)from then onAdverb4

他(tā)去(qù)了(le)国外(guówài)，从此(cóngcǐ)我们(wǒmen)就(jiù)没(méi)再(zài)见(jiàn)过(guo)面(miàn)。He went abroad, and from then on we never saw each other again.

渐渐(jiànjiàn)gradually; little by littleAdverb3

来(lái)中国(Zhōngguó)半(bàn)年(nián)后(hòu)，我(wǒ)渐渐(jiànjiàn)习惯(xíguàn)了(le)这里(zhèlǐ)的(de)生活(shēnghuó)。Half a year after coming to China, I gradually got used to life here.

The spoken word; 逐渐(zhújiàn) is more written.

一时(yìshí)for the moment; temporarilyAdverb4

他(tā)的(de)名字(míngzi)我(wǒ)一时(yìshí)想不起来(xiǎngbuqǐlái)了(le)。For the moment I can’t recall his name.

一度(yídù)at one time; for a whileAdverb4

这(zhè)首(shǒu)歌(gē)一度(yídù)非常(fēicháng)流行(liúxíng)。This song was very popular at one time.

最终(zuìzhōng)in the end; finalAdverb4

经过(jīngguò)多(duō)次(cì)讨论(tǎolùn)，我们(wǒmen)最终(zuìzhōng)选(xuǎn)了(le)第二(dì'èr)个(ge)方案(fāng'àn)。After many discussions, we finally chose the second option.

起初(qǐchū)at first; originallyAdverb4

起初(qǐchū)他(tā)不(bù)同意(tóngyì)，后来(hòulái)才(cái)慢慢(mànmàn)接受(jiēshòu)了(le)。At first he didn’t agree, and only gradually came to accept it.

Narrative and written; in speech 一(yì)开始(kāishǐ).

Preposition (1)

随着(suízhe)along with; asPreposition4

随着(suízhe)年龄(niánlíng)的(de)增长(zēngzhǎng)，他(tā)越来越(yuèláiyuè)喜欢(xǐhuan)安静(ānjìng)。As he gets older, he likes peace and quiet more and more.

Time word (5)

如今(rújīn)nowadays; these daysTime word4

以前(yǐqián)这里(zhèlǐ)是(shì)一(yí)片(piàn)农田(nóngtián)，如今(rújīn)到处(dàochù)都(dōu)是(shì)高楼(gāolóu)。This used to be farmland; nowadays there are tall buildings everywhere.

近来(jìnlái)recently; latelyTime word4

近来(jìnlái)天气(tiānqì)变化(biànhuà)大(dà)，感冒(gǎnmào)的(de)人(rén)很(hěn)多(duō)。The weather has been very changeable lately, and lots of people have colds.

More written than 最近(zuìjìn), and only about the past.

往年(wǎngnián)previous years; in former yearsTime word4

今年(jīnnián)夏天(xiàtiān)比(bǐ)往年(wǎngnián)热(rè)得(de)多(duō)。This summer is much hotter than in previous years.

近年(jìnnián)recent yearsTime word4

近年(jìnnián)来(lái)这里(zhèlǐ)的(de)游客(yóukè)越来越(yuèláiyuè)多(duō)。In recent years more and more tourists have come here.

日后(rìhòu)in the future; later onTime word4

这些(zhèxiē)资料(zīliào)请(qǐng)保存(bǎocún)好(hǎo)，日后(rìhòu)可能(kěnéng)用得着(yòngdezháo)。Please keep these documents safe; they may come in useful later.

This list belongs to Basic words: numbers, time, verbs — 21 lists and 842 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Practise this list

Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 41 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.