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shí time

7 strokesTraditional 時

Where the shape comes from

日, the sun, on the left, with 寸 on the right for the sound. Time is measured by the sun.

sun
sound

Write it

Watch the order first, then trace it with the guide, then write it from memory. The model comes back over your strokes so you can see where the shape drifted.

Press Watch to see the stroke order.

Stroke order from Make Me a Hanzi via Hanzi Writer, Arphic Public License.

Three words that use it

小时xiǎoshíhour
时间shíjiāntime
有时候yǒu shíhousometimes

Watch out

The mistake people make

The traditional form 時 keeps the same two parts, with 寺 on the right instead.

The traditional form

In Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau this character is written . It is the same word with the same sound and meaning. This course teaches the simplified form, and the traditional one is here so you recognise it when you see it.