hàoshí: 耗时 - Time-consuming, To take time

• Keywords: haoshi, 耗时, time-consuming in Chinese, takes a long time, how to say time-consuming in Mandarin, Chinese word for lengthy, efficient vs inefficient Chinese, 耗时 vs 花时间, HSK 5 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 耗时 (hàoshí), which means “time-consuming” or “to take a lot of time”. This guide breaks down how to use 耗时 to describe projects, tasks, or processes that are lengthy and potentially inefficient. We'll explore its character origins, cultural significance in modern, efficiency-focused China, and compare it to the more neutral phrase “花时间 (huā shíjiān)”. With 10 practical example sentences, you'll master this key HSK 5 term and understand its nuances in everyday conversation and business contexts.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): hàoshí
• Part of Speech: Verb, Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To take up or consume a significant amount of time; time-consuming.
• In a Nutshell: 耗时 (hàoshí) is the perfect word to describe something that “eats up” your time. It carries the feeling that time is a resource being expended or drained. While it can be neutral, it often has a slightly negative connotation, implying that a task is lengthy, tedious, or inefficient. Think of it as the direct equivalent of the English adjective “time-consuming.”

• 耗 (hào): This character means “to consume,” “to use up,” or “to expend.” It's composed of the radical 耒 (lěi), which represents a plow, and 毛 (máo), meaning fur or hair. The combination suggests the idea of things being worn down or used up through hard work, like farming. The core meaning is one of expenditure.
• 时 (shí): This character means “time” or “hour.” It's made of 日 (rì), the sun, and 寸 (cùn), a small unit of measurement. This pictorially represents the passage of time as measured by the sun's movement, like on a sundial.

Together, 耗 (to consume) + 时 (time) literally means “to consume time.” This makes its meaning very transparent and easy to remember.

While 耗时 (hàoshí) is a practical term, its frequent use reflects a core value in modern Chinese society: 效率 (xiàolǜ), or efficiency. In China's fast-paced cities and competitive business environments, speed is highly valued. Describing a process, proposal, or task as 耗时 is often more than an observation; it's a critique. It implies that a better, faster way should be found. For an English speaker, “it takes a while” can be a neutral statement. However, saying something is 耗时 in a business meeting is a clear signal that it's a significant drawback. It taps into the collective drive to optimize, streamline, and avoid wasting resources—with time being one of the most precious. It's the opposite of being 省时 (shěng shí), or “time-saving,” which is a highly desirable quality for any product or service.

耗时 is a versatile term used in both formal and informal settings.

• In the Workplace: It's frequently used to evaluate projects and processes. A manager might reject a plan because it's “太耗时了” (tài hàoshí le - too time-consuming).
• In Daily Life: People use it to talk about long commutes, complicated application procedures, cooking a complex meal, or any task that requires a large investment of time.
• As a Verb: It can act as a verb, often followed by a duration. For example, “这个工程耗时三年” (This project took three years).
• As an Adjective: More commonly, it functions like an adjective. For example, “这是一个很耗时的任务” (This is a very time-consuming task).

Its connotation is generally neutral to negative. It points out a factual cost (time) but often with an underlying tone of inconvenience or inefficiency.

• Example 1:
  • 这个项目非常耗时，我们需要更多的人手。
  • Pinyin: Zhège xiàngmù fēicháng hàoshí, wǒmen xūyào gèng duō de rénshǒu.
  • English: This project is extremely time-consuming; we need more manpower.
  • Analysis: Here, 耗时 is used as an adjective to describe the nature of the project, justifying the need for more resources.
• Example 2:
  • 整个申请过程耗时两个月。
  • Pinyin: Zhěnggè shēnqǐng guòchéng hàoshí liǎng ge yuè.
  • English: The entire application process took two months.
  • Analysis: In this sentence, 耗时 acts as a verb, stating the total duration of time consumed. This is a common structure for reports and factual statements.
• Example 3:
  • 每天在路上通勤太耗时了，我正在考虑搬家。
  • Pinyin: Měitiān zài lùshàng tōngqín tài hàoshí le, wǒ zhèngzài kǎolǜ bānjiā.
  • English: Commuting on the road every day is too time-consuming, I'm considering moving.
  • Analysis: A classic daily-life complaint. The word 耗时 carries the negative feeling of time being drained or wasted.
• Example 4:
  • 手工制作虽然耗时，但成品更有价值。
  • Pinyin: Shǒugōng zhìzuò suīrán hàoshí, dàn chéngpǐn gèng yǒu jiàzhí.
  • English: Although making things by hand is time-consuming, the finished products are more valuable.
  • Analysis: This shows a more balanced use of the word. It acknowledges the time cost but contrasts it with a positive outcome.
• Example 5:
  • 我们必须找到一个不那么耗时的解决方案。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū zhǎodào yīgè bù nàme hàoshí de jiějué fāng'àn.
  • English: We must find a less time-consuming solution.
  • Analysis: A typical business or problem-solving context where efficiency is the goal.
• Example 6:
  • 清理这个旧仓库既耗时又费力。
  • Pinyin: Qīnglǐ zhège jiù cāngkù jì hàoshí yòu fèilì.
  • English: Cleaning out this old warehouse is both time-consuming and energy-consuming.
  • Analysis: 耗时 is often paired with 费力 (fèilì), which means “strenuous” or “energy-consuming,” to describe a doubly difficult task.
• Example 7:
  • 学习任何一门语言都是一个耗时的过程。
  • Pinyin: Xuéxí rènhé yī mén yǔyán dōu shì yīgè hàoshí de guòchéng.
  • English: Learning any language is a time-consuming process.
  • Analysis: A neutral, factual statement. It simply describes the nature of language learning without a strong negative judgment.
• Example 8:
  • 渲染高质量的视频文件可能会很耗时。
  • Pinyin: Xuànrǎn gāo zhìliàng de shìpín wénjiàn kěnéng huì hěn hàoshí.
  • English: Rendering high-quality video files can be very time-consuming.
  • Analysis: This is a common usage in technical contexts, describing a process that inherently takes a long time due to its complexity.
• Example 9:
  • 跟他解释这个问题太耗时了，他根本听不进去。
  • Pinyin: Gēn tā jiěshì zhège wèntí tài hàoshí le, tā gēnběn tīng bù jìnqù.
  • English: It's too time-consuming to explain this problem to him; he doesn't listen at all.
  • Analysis: Here, 耗时 expresses frustration. The time spent is not just long, but also unproductive, verging on a waste of time.
• Example 10:
  • 你觉得哪种方法最不耗时？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ juéde nǎ zhǒng fāngfǎ zuì bù hàoshí?
  • English: Which method do you think is the least time-consuming?
  • Analysis: This question structure is very useful for seeking the most efficient option.

The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 耗时 (hàoshí) and 花时间 (huā shíjiān).

• 花时间 (huā shíjiān): Literally “to spend time.” It is a neutral verb phrase used to state how much time was spent on something. It doesn't carry any judgment about efficiency.
  • Correct: 我花了一个小时做晚饭。(Wǒ huāle yīgè xiǎoshí zuò wǎnfàn.) - I spent one hour making dinner.
• 耗时 (hàoshí): “Time-consuming.” It's an adjective describing the nature of the task or a verb summarizing a long duration. It's not typically used for short, specific timeframes.
  • Correct: 做一顿丰盛的晚饭很耗时。(Zuò yī dùn fēngshèng de wǎnfàn hěn hàoshí.) - Making a big dinner is very time-consuming.
  • Correct: 这顿饭耗时三个小时才做好。(Zhè dùn fàn hàoshí sān ge xiǎoshí cái zuò hǎo.) - This meal took three hours to be ready.

Common Mistake: Using 耗时 like 花时间 for a specific duration.

• Incorrect: 我耗时十分钟走路去超市。(Wǒ hàoshí shí fēnzhōng zǒulù qù chāoshì.)
• Why it's wrong: Ten minutes is not a significant “consumption” of time. The phrase implies a lengthy, draining process. The neutral 花时间 is the correct choice here.
• Correct: 我花了十分钟走路去超市。(Wǒ huāle shí fēnzhōng zǒulù qù chāoshì.)

• 浪费时间 (làngfèi shíjiān) - To waste time. This is much more negative than 耗时, implying that the time spent was completely useless.
• 花时间 (huā shíjiān) - To spend time. The neutral verb for stating a duration.
• 省时 (shěng shí) - To save time. The direct antonym of 耗时 and a very positive attribute.
• 费时 (fèishí) - A close synonym for 耗时, also meaning “time-consuming.” 耗时 is slightly more common in contemporary Mandarin.
• 费力 (fèilì) - Strenuous, energy-consuming. Often paired with 耗时 to describe tasks that are difficult in both time and effort (耗时耗力).
• 效率 (xiàolǜ) - Efficiency. The quality that a 耗时 process lacks.
• 麻烦 (máfan) - Troublesome, inconvenient. A task that is 耗时 is very often also 麻烦.
• 冗长 (rǒngcháng) - Tediously long, drawn-out. Used specifically for meetings, speeches, or articles that are too long. It's a type of 耗时.