Chinese–EnglishWith examples

临时

lín shí · lin shi

Traditional 臨時

HSK 4Old HSK 5

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. as the time draws near
  2. at the last moment
  3. temporary
  4. interim
  5. ad hoc
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In a conversation

0:20 cartoon

A last-minute change

  1. Liangliang

    灯灯(dēngdēng)，你(nǐ)在(zài)哪儿(nǎr)？大家(dàjiā)都(dōu)到(dào)了(le)。

    Dengdeng, where are you? Everyone has arrived.

  2. Dengdeng

    对不起(duìbuqǐ)，我(wǒ)临时(línshí)有事(yǒushì)，来(lái)不了(bùliǎo)了(le)。

    Sorry, something came up at the last minute and I can't come.

  3. Liangliang

    什么(shénme)事(shì)？你(nǐ)昨天(zuótiān)不是(bùshì)说(shuō)要来(yàolái)吗(ma)？

    What is it? Didn't you say yesterday that you'd come?

  4. Dengdeng

    我(wǒ)的(de)朋友(péngyou)临时(línshí)找(zhǎo)我(wǒ)帮忙(bāngmáng)搬家(bānjiā)。

    A friend asked me at the last minute to help move house.

  5. Liangliang

    好(hǎo)吧(ba)，那(nà)你(nǐ)先(xiān)搬家(bānjiā)。我们(wǒmen)给(gěi)你(nǐ)留(liú)一杯(yībēi)茶(chá)。

    Okay, you move house first. We'll keep a cup of tea for you.

Tap a word for its meaning in this line. The characters’ voices are computer-generated.

In a sentence

2 examples
01

事(shì)先(xiān)打(dǎ)个(ge)招(zhāo)呼(hu)，别(bié)叫(jiào)我(wǒ)临(lín)时(shí)抓(zhuā)瞎(xiā)。

Let me know beforehand instead of catching me on the hop at the last minute.

Tatoeba: Chinese by trieuho · English by sundown · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

家(jiā)豪(háo)说(shuō)他(tā)今(jīn)天(tiān)不(bù)来(lái)了(le)，临(lín)时(shí)加(jiā)班(bān)。

Jia-hao said he's not coming today. He has a last-minute overtime.

Tatoeba: Chinese by LeviHighway · English by LeviHighway · CC BY 2.0 FR. Simplified Chinese conversion; Pinyin added or corrected.

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How to write

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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