For a short while – 一时 yìshí

Grammar Point:
一時时 yìshí refers to a short period of time, often meaning “at the moment,” “temporarily,” or “impulsively.” It’s commonly used to describe things that happen suddenly or only last for a brief time.

Structure

一時时 yìshí + emotion or action

This structure shows something done briefly or without long-term intent.

我wǒ是shì一時yìshí生氣shēngqì才cái說shuō那種nàzhǒng話huà的de我wǒ是shì一时yìshí生气shēngqì才cái说shuō那种nàzhǒng话huà的de
I only said that because I was angry in the moment.

她tā一時yìshí沒méi忍住rěnzhù， 半夜bànyè吃chī了le整zhěng桶tǒng冰淇淋bīngqílín她tā一时yìshí没méi忍住rěnzhù， 半夜bànyè吃chī了le整zhěng桶tǒng冰淇淋bīngqílín
She couldn’t resist in the moment and ate a whole tub of ice cream at midnight.

你nǐ讓ràng我wǒ推薦tuījiàn歌gē？ 我wǒ一時yìshí還hái真zhēn想不到xiǎngbúdào你nǐ让ràng我wǒ推荐tuījiàn歌gē？ 我wǒ一时yìshí还hái真zhēn想不到xiǎngbudào
You want me to recommend a song? I honestly can’t think of one at the moment.

他tā一時yìshí情緒qíngxù上來shànglái， 就jiù把bǎ手機shǒujī摔shuāi了le他tā一时yìshí情绪qíngxù上来shànglái， 就jiù把bǎ手机shǒujī摔shuāi了le
He got emotional for a moment and threw his phone.

我們wǒmen是shì一時yìshí興起xīngqǐ才cái開車kāichē去qù海邊hǎibiān的de， 根本gēnběn沒méi計畫jìhuà！ 我们wǒmen是shì一时yìshí兴起xīngqǐ才cái开车kāichē去qù海边hǎibiān的de， 根本gēnběn没méi计画jìhuà！
We drove to the beach on a whim—totally unplanned!

我wǒ一時yìshí衝動chōngdòng買mǎi了le超chāo貴guì的de球鞋qiúxié， 現在xiànzài有點yǒudiǎn後悔hòuhuǐ…… 我wǒ一时yìshí冲动chōngdòng买mǎi了le超chāo贵guì的de球鞋qiúxié， 现在xiànzài有点yǒudiǎn后悔hòuhuǐ……
I bought those ridiculously expensive sneakers on impulse. Now I kind of regret it…

我wǒ對duì你nǐ的de討厭tǎoyàn不是búshì一時yìshí的de， 我wǒ忍rěn你nǐ很hěn久jiǔ了le我wǒ对duì你nǐ的de讨厌tǎoyàn不是búshì一时yìshí的de， 我wǒ忍rěn你nǐ很hěn久jiǔ了le
My dislike for you isn’t just temporary. I’ve been putting up with you for a long time.

我wǒ這zhè不是búshì一時yìshí情緒qíngxù不好bùhǎo， 是shì看到kàndào你nǐ就jiù心情xīnqíng不好bùhǎo我wǒ这zhè不是búshì一时yìshí情绪qíngxù不好bùhǎo， 是shì看到kàndào你nǐ就jiù心情xīnqíng不好bùhǎo
It’s not that I’m just in a bad mood. It’s that seeing you puts me in a bad mood.

一時时 yìshí vs 暫時 zhànshí暂时 zànshí

• 一時时 yìshí: It is often used to describe an emotional or impulsive reaction in the moment.

• 暫時 zhànshí暂时 zànshí: Refers to a temporary situation or substitute, without emphasizing suddenness or emotion.

他tā一時yìshí找zhǎo不bú到dào手機shǒujī， 就jiù開始kāishǐ慌huāng了le他tā一时yìshí找zhǎo不bú到dào手机shǒujī， 就jiù开始kāishǐ慌huāng了le
He couldn’t find his phone for a moment and panicked.

我wǒ手機shǒujī壞huài了le， 暫時zhànshí用yòng我wǒ爸bà的de我wǒ手机shǒujī坏huài了le， 暂时zànshí用yòng我wǒ爸bà的de
My phone is broken, so I’m temporarily using my dad’s.