暂时 zàn shí
“temporary; provisional; for the time being”
adverb, attributiveHSK 4 · 2021 list level 5Traditional 暫時
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
暂时 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 1916: 暂时 zànshí — Level 4; official annotation 4 (形). PDF page 127
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 暂时
暂时 means "temporary" or "for the time being": something is true only for a limited period and is expected to change later. It is most often used as an adverb directly before a verb or adjective (暂时住, 暂时不告诉, 暂时停), and can also take 的 before a noun (暂时的问题).
例句Example sentences
- 我现在暂时住在朋友家。wǒ xiàn zài zàn shí zhù zài péng you jiā.For the time being, I'm staying at a friend's place.
- 这件事我们暂时不要告诉他。zhè jiàn shì wǒ men zàn shí bú yào gào su tā.Let's not tell him about this for now.
- 因为下雨，比赛暂时停了。yīn wèi xià yǔ, bǐ sài zàn shí tíng le.Because of the rain, the match has stopped temporarily.
常见错误Common mistakes
-
✗我住暂时在朋友家。
✓我暂时住在朋友家。
暂时 is an adverb and must come before the verb, not after it.