时 shí — o'clock; time; when; hour; season; period
上课的时候要认真听讲。Shàng kè de shí hou yào rèn zhēn tīng jiǎng.Pay attention during class.
Common words: 时候 (shí hou)、时间 (shí jiān)、小时 (xiǎo shí)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "season"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "season", including 时 (shí), 季 (jì). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words, and examples.
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "season" covers 2 different Chinese characters — 时 (shí), 季 (jì) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 2 characters do not share a sound — their readings span shí, jì — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 时 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 时 shío'clock; time; when; hour; season; periodUseful words: 时候, 时间
- 季 jìseason; periodUseful words: 季节, 四季
Common words for these 2 "season" characters
Anchor each of these 2 characters in a word you can picture — start with 时 (shí) — so "season" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 2 ways to say "season".
季 jì — season; period
一年有四个季节，我最喜欢春季。Yì nián yǒu sì ge jì jié, wǒ zuì xǐ huan chūn jì.There are four seasons in a year, and I like spring the most.
Common words: 季节 (jì jié)、四季 (sì jì)、季度 (jì dù)
All 2 characters
Open 时、季 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.