临时 (lín shí) — as the time draws near in Mandarin
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#1441 most common word · HSK 5 · CEFR B2
Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
Tone breakdown
临时 is pronounced lín shí. Tap any syllable’s row to hear the whole word.
In a sentence
Zhè shì yī ge línshí juédìng.
This is a temporary decision.
Hear it, then say it right
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
What does 临时 mean?+
临时 (lín shí) means "as the time draws near" in Mandarin Chinese.
How do you pronounce 临时?+
临时 is pronounced lín shí. It uses the tone 2 (rising). Tap the character on this page to hear native audio.
How common is 临时 in Mandarin?+
临时 is the #1441 most frequent word in spoken Mandarin, so it is one of the first words worth learning.
Where 临时 fits
Every HSK 5 word with tone-coloured pinyin and audio.
Words at a similar frequency
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What each tone sounds like and why it matters.
Why some tones change in connected speech.
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