yǒushí: 有时 - Sometimes, At Times

• Keywords: yǒushí, 有时, sometimes in Chinese, at times in Chinese, how to say sometimes, Chinese adverbs of frequency, Chinese grammar, yǒushíhou, 有时候, HSK 2 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn how to say “sometimes” in Chinese with the essential adverb 有时 (yǒushí). This guide breaks down its meaning, grammar, and usage with practical examples. Understand the difference between 有时 (yǒushí) and its common counterpart 有时候 (yǒushíhou), and master one of the most fundamental adverbs of frequency for expressing nuance in your daily conversations.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yǒushí
• Part of Speech: Adverb
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: It indicates that an action or situation occurs on some occasions but not all; sometimes.
• In a Nutshell: 有时 (yǒushí) is the direct Chinese equivalent of the English word “sometimes.” It's a simple but crucial adverb used to describe actions or states that are not constant. Placing it before a verb allows you to express that something happens intermittently, moving your language beyond simple, absolute statements like “always” or “never.”

• 有 (yǒu): This character means “to have” or “there is/are.” Its ancient form is thought to be a pictogram of a hand (又) holding a piece of meat (月), signifying possession or existence.
• 时 (shí): This character means “time,” “hour,” or “season.” It's composed of the “sun” radical (日) on the left and a phonetic component, 寺 (sì), on the right. Time, of course, was historically measured by the sun's position.
• When combined, 有时 (yǒushí) literally translates to “have time” or “there are times,” which perfectly captures the meaning of “sometimes”—i.e., there are specific times when something happens.

While 有时 (yǒushí) is a straightforward adverb, its frequent use can be seen as a reflection of a pragmatic and nuanced communication style valued in Chinese culture. Unlike a cultural tendency in the West to sometimes favor strong, direct, and absolute statements, Chinese communication often leans towards moderation and situational awareness. Using 有时 (yǒushí) allows a speaker to make an observation without over-committing or sounding too extreme. For instance, instead of saying “This city is very noisy,” one might say “This city is sometimes very noisy” (这个城市有时很吵). This is not just more accurate; it's also softer, less confrontational, and acknowledges that reality is complex and not black-and-white. It reflects a worldview where flexibility is valued and absolute judgments are often avoided.

有时 (yǒushí) is a high-frequency word used in all contexts, from casual chat to formal writing.

• Sentence Placement: The most important rule for 有时 is its placement. It almost always comes after the subject and before the verb.
  • Correct: 我 有时 喝茶。 (Wǒ yǒushí hē chá.) - I sometimes drink tea.
  • Incorrect: 我喝茶有时。 (Wǒ hē chá yǒushí.)
• `有时` vs. `有时候 (yǒushíhou)`: In daily conversation, you will hear 有时候 (yǒushíhou) far more often than 有时 (yǒushí). They are functionally identical and interchangeable. However, there's a subtle difference:
  • 有时候 (yǒushíhou): More common, conversational, and natural in spoken Chinese.
  • 有时 (yǒushí): Perfectly correct, but can sound slightly more concise, formal, or literary. It's more common in writing.
  • For a beginner, it's best to get comfortable using 有时候 (yǒushíhou) in conversation, but recognize 有时 (yǒushí) when you see or hear it.

• Example 1:
  • 北京的冬天很冷，有时会下雪。
  • Pinyin: Běijīng de dōngtiān hěn lěng, yǒushí huì xiàxuě.
  • English: Winter in Beijing is very cold; sometimes it snows.
  • Analysis: A straightforward description of a situation. 有时 is used to state a possibility that doesn't happen every day.
• Example 2:
  • 他看起来很开朗，但有时也会感到孤独。
  • Pinyin: Tā kànqǐlái hěn kāilǎng, dàn yǒushí yě huì gǎndào gūdú.
  • English: He seems cheerful, but at times he also feels lonely.
  • Analysis: 有时 is used here to show a contrast between a person's usual appearance and their occasional feelings. The 也 (yě) emphasizes “also.”
• Example 3:
  • 我有时坐地铁上班，有时骑自行车。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yǒushí zuò dìtiě shàngbān, yǒushí qí zìxíngchē.
  • English: I sometimes take the subway to work, and sometimes ride my bike.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the “sometimes… sometimes…” pattern, showing alternative actions that occur at different times.
• Example 4:
  • 有时候，最好的选择就是什么都不做。
  • Pinyin: Yǒushíhou, zuì hǎo de xuǎnzé jiùshì shénme dōu bù zuò.
  • English: Sometimes, the best choice is to do nothing at all.
  • Analysis: This shows that 有时候 (yǒushíhou) can be placed at the beginning of a sentence for emphasis, often followed by a comma. This is very common.
• Example 5:
  • 我们有时候会因为一些小事吵架。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen yǒushíhou huì yīnwèi yīxiē xiǎoshì chǎojià.
  • English: We sometimes argue over small things.
  • Analysis: Here, the more conversational 有时候 is used to describe a recurring but not constant event in a relationship.
• Example 6:
  • 这里的网络有时快，有时慢。
  • Pinyin: Zhèlǐ de wǎngluò yǒushí kuài, yǒushí màn.
  • English: The internet here is sometimes fast, sometimes slow.
  • Analysis: Another example of the “sometimes X, sometimes Y” pattern, used to describe a fluctuating state.
• Example 7:
  • 虽然我很喜欢吃辣，但有时候也想吃点清淡的。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán wǒ hěn xǐhuān chī là, dàn yǒushíhou yě xiǎng chī diǎn qīngdàn de.
  • English: Although I really like spicy food, sometimes I also want to eat something mild.
  • Analysis: Used within a more complex sentence structure starting with “Although…” (虽然…).
• Example 8:
  • 这份工作压力很大，我有时真想放弃。
  • Pinyin: Zhè fèn gōngzuò yālì hěn dà, wǒ yǒushí zhēn xiǎng fàngqì.
  • English: This job is very stressful; sometimes I really want to quit.
  • Analysis: 有时 here conveys a recurring feeling or temptation, making the statement more relatable and less overly dramatic.
• Example 9:
  • 有时一个微笑就能改变一天的心情。
  • Pinyin: Yǒushí yīgè wéixiào jiù néng gǎibiàn yītiān de xīnqíng.
  • English: Sometimes a single smile can change your mood for the whole day.
  • Analysis: Using the more literary 有时 at the beginning of a sentence gives it a slightly more profound or proverbial feel.
• Example 10:
  • 我有时候会忘记他的名字，真不好意思。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yǒushíhou huì wàngjì tā de míngzì, zhēn bù hǎoyìsi.
  • English: I sometimes forget his name, it's really embarrassing.
  • Analysis: A perfect example of everyday spoken Chinese, using 有时候 to admit a fault in a natural way.

• Mistake 1: Incorrect Placement. English speakers often want to place “sometimes” at the end of a sentence. In Chinese, this is incorrect. The adverb 有时(候) must go before the verb.
  • Incorrect: ~~我想一个人待着有时候。~~ (Wǒ xiǎng yīgè rén dāizhe yǒushíhou.)
  • Correct: 我有时候想一个人待着。 (Wǒ yǒushíhou xiǎng yīgè rén dāizhe.) - I sometimes want to be alone.
• Mistake 2: Confusing Frequency with Quantity. Don't confuse 有时 (yǒushí) with 有点儿 (yǒudiǎnr).
  • 有时 (yǒushí) means “sometimes” (frequency). → 我有时觉得累。(Wǒ yǒushí juéde lèi.) - I sometimes feel tired.
  • 有点儿 (yǒudiǎnr) means “a little bit” (degree/quantity). → 我有点儿累。(Wǒ yǒudiǎnr lèi.) - I feel a little bit tired.
• Nuance: Forgetting the `候 (hou)` in `有时候`. While `有时` is correct, `有时候` is the more common and complete form in spoken language. Using `有时` in casual speech is fine, but it can sometimes sound a little clipped or formal. When in doubt, 有时候 is a safer and more natural choice for conversation.

• 有时候 (yǒushíhou) - The most common synonym, especially in spoken language. Virtually interchangeable.
• 常常 (chángcháng) - Often, frequently. Indicates a higher frequency than 有时.
• 经常 (jīngcháng) - Often, frequently. Very similar to `常常`, perhaps slightly more formal.
• 总是 (zǒngshì) - Always. The opposite of “never” and indicates 100% frequency.
• 从不 (cóngbù) - Never. The direct antonym, indicating 0% frequency.
• 偶尔 (ǒu'ěr) - Occasionally, once in a while. This implies a lower frequency than 有时.
• 平时 (píngshí) - Normally, usually. This describes the default state, which is often contrasted by what one does 有时. (e.g., “平时我喝水，但有时也喝可乐。” - “Normally I drink water, but sometimes I also drink cola.”)