时而 (shí'ér)

Basic Explanation

"时而" (shí'ér) is an adverbial phrase in Chinese that means "now and then" or "occasionally." It is used to indicate actions or occurrences that happen intermittently or from time to time.

Usage

"时而" is typically used to describe actions or events that occur infrequently but repeatedly. Here are some examples of its usage:

• Example:

  他时而笑，时而哭。
  (Tā shí'ér xiào, shí'ér kū.)
  - He laughs now and then, and sometimes cries.

• Example:

  这里的天气时而晴朗，时而多云。
  (Zhèlǐ de tiānqì shí'ér qínglǎng, shí'ér duōyún.)
  - The weather here is occasionally clear and sometimes cloudy.

Examples

Here are some example sentences with "时而" to illustrate its usage:

• 他时而读书，时而写字。
  (Tā shí'ér dúshū, shí'ér xiězì.)
  - Sometimes he reads, and sometimes he writes.
• 在这座城市里，人们的心情时而激动，时而平静。
  (Zài zhè zuò chéngshì lǐ, rénmen de xīnqíng shí'ér jīdòng, shí'ér píngjìng.)
  - In this city, people's emotions are sometimes excited and sometimes calm.