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March 24, 2026
同时(同時)tóngshí(tong2shi2)
同时 (tóngshí) means 'at the same time' or 'simultaneously.' It is commonly used to indicate that two or more actions or events occur concurrently. This term is often used in both spoken and written Chinese to emphasize the simultaneous nature of situations or actions.
Frequency#966DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
The concept of simultaneity is significant in Chinese culture, particularly in contexts like festivals where multiple events occur together, such as during the Spring Festival when families might gather while attending various celebrations simultaneously.
Memory Tip
Imagine two clocks showing the same time, emphasizing the idea of simultaneity. The first part '同' (tóng) means 'together' or 'same,' while '时' (shí) means 'time.' Picture both clocks together, ticking in harmony to remember that '同时' refers to events happening together in time.
Meanings of 同时
tóngshí(tong2shi2)
1at the same time
2simultaneously
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 同时
同时Simplified
同時Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
连词连词conjunction (conj.)Part of Speech
#966Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 同时
Podcast: 同时
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AI Study Notes for 同时
Quick Contrast
同时 (tóngshí) vs 一起 (yīqǐ) — use 同时 for emphasizing concurrent actions or events, while 一起 implies doing something together.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine two clocks showing the same time, emphasizing the idea of simultaneity. The first part '同' (tóng) means 'together' or 'same,' while '时' (shí) means 'time.' Picture both clocks together, ticking in harmony to remember that '同时' refers to events happening together in time.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse '同时' with '而且' (érqiě), which means 'and' or 'moreover.' '同时' is used specifically for simultaneous actions. It is more formal than casual phrases, so use it in both written and spoken contexts when discussing concurrent events.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 4 word, '同时' connects well with other time-related vocabulary like '以前' (yǐqián - before) and '以后' (yǐhòu - after). Focus on using it with verbs to describe actions occurring together, enhancing your fluency in temporal expressions.
Cultural Note
The concept of simultaneity is significant in Chinese culture, particularly in contexts like festivals where multiple events occur together, such as during the Spring Festival when families might gather while attending various celebrations simultaneously.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 同时 with '同时' (tóngshí) and '一起' (yīqǐ), which means 'together.' For example, saying '我们一起做作业同时。' is incorrect; it should be '我们一起做作业。' or '我们同时做作业。' to convey the intended meaning.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 同时
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Grammar Patterns of 同时
同时 functions as a conjunction — it connects clauses or phrases. Many Chinese conjunctions come in pairs (虽然…但是…, 因为…所以…); use them at the front of the clauses they link. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
A very important paper is due soon, and at the same time, there are other matters to wrap up — only by resolving your own issues can you achieve the next level of success.
With perfect synchronization, two other girls cartwheeled toward the ropes.
Cultural Notes for 同时
🏮Cultural insight
The concept of simultaneity is significant in Chinese culture, particularly in contexts like festivals where multiple events occur together, such as during the Spring Festival when families might gather while attending various celebrations simultaneously.
Frequently Asked Questions about 同时
Yes, while it's more formal, it's perfectly acceptable to use 同时 in informal contexts to describe actions happening at the same time.
You can use it like this: '我同时做作业和听音乐。' (Wǒ tóngshí zuò zuòyè hé tīng yīnyuè - I am doing homework and listening to music at the same time.)
The opposite is '分开' (fēnkāi), meaning 'separately' or 'apart,' which indicates actions that do not occur simultaneously.
