时间 (shí jiān, time)

The character for 时 (shí), time, originally written 时, is a compound of three elements: 日 (rì), sun or day, 土(tǔ) , derived from 止(zhǐ), advance, and 寸 (cùn), meaning "take hold of" in ancient times. The four seasons are called 四时 (sì shí). When followed by 间 (jiān, space), it forms the word 时间 (shí jiān), which can be understood as "a space of time." A similar expression is 时空 (shí kōng, time and space).

Understandably, the characters for sun and day are often associated with duration. The sun was the most primitive way to measure the passage of time计算时间 (jì suàn shí jiān).

Einstein believed that traveling through space and time is like chasing after light. The Chinese made this discovery long ago, employing yet another way to describe time: 时光 (shí guāng), literally "time and light."

Common phrases of "time":

时常/经常

shí cháng/jīng cháng

often, frequently

赶时间

gǎn shí jiān

chasing after time

浪费时间

làng fèi shí jiān

waste time

时光飞逝

shí guāng fēi shì

Time flies.

时间是金钱

shí jiān shì jīn qián

Time is money.

Source: China Today