Listen to this articleShí 时
Time / Timing
“时”有三种不同含义：其一，指天道运行的时序或规律，如春夏秋冬四时，或昼夜交替的时辰等。其二，指适宜于某种人事的天象或气候条件，如农时、天时等。其三，指人事发展过程中出现的时机、时运。“时”的出现与消失体现着天道或人事运行的规则。人应认识并把握“时”及其所体现的规则，采取与“时”相适应的行动。
Shi (时 time or timing) has the following three meanings: First, the sequence or rules of Nature’s way, such as spring, summer, autumn, and winter; or hours that mark changes of time during day and night; Second, a certain celestial phenomenon or climatic condition having impact on human activity, such as seasons for farming or timing for other activities; Third, the right time or opportunity that emerges in the course of human activity. The emergence or disappearance of timing is governed by the rules of Nature’s way or human behavior. People should gain a good understanding and master time or timing and their manifested rules and act in a way commensurate with them.
引例 Citations：
◎天何言哉，四时行焉，百物生焉，天何言哉？（《论语·阳货》）
天何尝说话呢？四季周而复始，万物蓬勃生长，天又何尝说了什么呢？
Has Nature ever said anything? The four seasons run their cyclical course and all things grow vigorously. Has Nature ever said anything? (The Analects)
◎时止则止，时行则行，动静不失其时。（《周易·彖下》）
根据时势该静止就静止，该行动就行动，动静不错失时机。
Stop what you do when timing is not right, act when timing is favorable. Move and stop as dictated by timing. (The Book of Changes)
