Definition
时隐时现 is a four-character idiom (chengyu) meaning 'to appear and disappear intermittently' or 'to flicker in and out of view'. It describes something that is not consistently visible, such as a light, a figure, or a memory. The structure 时…时… pairs two verbs to indicate alternating states — here 隐 (hide) and 现 (appear) — so it literally reads 'at times hidden, at times visible'.
v
to appear and disappear intermittentlyto be intermittently visible
Examples
- 时隐时现，。Yuǎnchù de dēngguāng shí yǐn shí xiàn, xiàng shì yǒu rén zài qiújiù.The light in the distance flickered in and out, as if someone was signaling for help.
- 时隐时现，。Nà ge móhu de shēnyǐng zài wù zhōng shí yǐn shí xiàn, ràng rén gǎndào bù'ān.That blurry figure appeared and disappeared in the mist, making people feel uneasy.
- 时隐时现，。Huíyì zhōng de huàmiàn shí yǐn shí xiàn, tā nǔlì xiǎng zhuāzhù què zǒngshì túláo.The images in his memory flickered in and out; he tried hard to grasp them but always in vain.
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