过时 (guò shí) — Chinese Word

adjective / verb HSK 5

Traditional 過時

guò shí

outdated · obsolete · out of fashion · to go out of style

Meaning

过时 describes something that is no longer current, fashionable, or relevant. It combines 过 (to pass, exceed) and 时 (time) to literally mean "passed time" or "beyond the times." It applies to fashion, technology, ideas, or methods that were once popular but are now considered old-fashioned.

Usage

Commonly used to criticize outdated technology, old-fashioned thinking, or unfashionable clothing. Can be used both attributively (过时的想法) and predicatively (这个方法已经过时了). Generally carries a mildly negative connotation, suggesting something should be updated or replaced.

Examples

01
这种技术已经过时了，我们需要更新设备。
Zhè zhǒng jì shù yǐ jīng guò shí le, wǒ men xū yào gēng xīn shè bèi.
This technology is already outdated; we need to update our equipment.
02
他的穿衣风格有点过时，应该买些新衣服。
Tā de chuān yī fēng gé yǒu diǎn guò shí, yīng gāi mǎi xiē xīn yī fu.
His clothing style is a bit outdated; he should buy some new clothes.

Characters

Common collocations

过时的观念
guò shí de guān niàn
outdated concept
已经过时
yǐ jīng guò shí
already outdated
显得过时
xiǎn de guò shí
appear outdated
永不过时
yǒng bù guò shí
never go out of style

Antonyms

Origin

Formed from 过 (to pass) and 时 (time), literally meaning something has "passed its time" or is beyond the current era.