guòshí: 过时 - Outdated, Obsolete, Out of Fashion

• Keywords: guoshi, 过时, outdated in Chinese, obsolete, out of fashion, behind the times, old-fashioned Chinese, how to say outdated in Chinese, obsolete technology, old-fashioned ideas
• Summary: Learn how to use “过时” (guòshí), the essential Chinese word for “outdated,” “obsolete,” or “out of fashion.” This guide explores its meaning, cultural significance in fast-paced modern China, and practical usage for describing everything from technology and fashion to ideas. Discover the difference between “过时” (outdated) and “老” (old) to avoid common mistakes and sound like a native speaker.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): guòshí
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To be outdated, past its prime, obsolete, or no longer in fashion.
• In a Nutshell: `过时` literally means “passed the time.” It's a versatile and common term used to describe anything—a phone, a piece of clothing, an idea, or a method—that is no longer current or effective because time and progress have moved on. It carries a negative connotation, implying something is no longer desirable or relevant in the modern context.

• 过 (guò): To pass, to cross, to go beyond. Imagine time as a river; `过` signifies that something has already “passed by” or “crossed” a certain point in that river.
• 时 (shí): Time, era, season, period. This refers to “the times” or the current era.

The two characters combine to create a very literal and intuitive meaning: “to have passed the time/era.” Something that is `过时` belongs to a previous time and is no longer part of the present.

In a country like China that has experienced several decades of hyper-speed development, the concept of `过时` is particularly potent. What was considered modern and cutting-edge just five or ten years ago can feel ancient today. This makes `过时` a powerful word in daily conversation. The term reflects a cultural emphasis on progress, innovation, and “keeping up with the times” (跟上时代 - gēn shàng shídài). To call an idea or a method `过时` is a strong criticism, suggesting it's not just old, but irrelevant and holding back progress. A helpful Western comparison is the word “outdated,” but the feeling in a Chinese context is often more acute. While in the West, “old-fashioned” can sometimes have a quaint, charming, or “vintage” connotation, `过时` is almost always purely negative. It's not about being nostalgic; it's about being left behind. If you want to describe something as fashionably “retro” or “vintage,” the correct term would be `复古 (fùgǔ)`, not `过时`.

`过时` is used frequently in various contexts, almost always with a critical or descriptive tone.

• Technology: This is one of the most common uses. Describing a phone without 5G, a computer with a slow processor, or old software.
• Fashion: Referring to clothing styles, haircuts, or makeup trends that are no longer popular.
• Ideas & Methods: Criticizing a management style, a business strategy, or a social viewpoint as being stuck in the past. For example, “Your way of thinking is too `过时`.”
• Information: Pointing out that data, news, or a map is no longer accurate because it's old.

The connotation is consistently negative. It implies a lack of utility, relevance, or style. It is used in both formal and informal settings.

• Example 1:
  • 我这部手机已经过时了，我想换一部新的。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zhè bù shǒujī yǐjīng guòshí le, wǒ xiǎng huàn yí bù xīn de.
  • English: My phone is already outdated, I want to get a new one.
  • Analysis: A very common use case. `了 (le)` indicates the change of state—it *has become* outdated.
• Example 2:
  • 她觉得我穿的这件衬衫样式太过时了。
  • Pinyin: Tā juéde wǒ chuān de zhè jiàn chènshān yàngshì tài guòshí le.
  • English: She thinks the style of this shirt I'm wearing is too out of fashion.
  • Analysis: Here, `过时` is used to describe fashion. `太…了 (tài…le)` emphasizes *how* outdated it is.
• Example 3:
  • 在今天，用现金付款有点过时了，大家都用手机支付。
  • Pinyin: Zài jīntiān, yòng xiànjīn fùkuǎn yǒudiǎn guòshí le, dàjiā dōu yòng shǒujī zhīfù.
  • English: Nowadays, paying with cash is a bit outdated; everyone uses mobile payments.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights a major cultural shift in modern China and how a once-normal behavior is now considered `过时`. `有点 (yǒudiǎn)` softens the statement slightly, meaning “a bit.”
• Example 4:
  • 他的一些管理理念已经严重过时，不适合现代公司。
  • Pinyin: Tā de yìxiē guǎnlǐ lǐniàn yǐjīng yánzhòng guòshí, bù shìhé xiàndài gōngsī.
  • English: Some of his management concepts are already severely outdated and aren't suitable for a modern company.
  • Analysis: This shows `过时` being used for abstract concepts like ideas (`理念`). The adverb `严重 (yánzhòng)` means “severely” or “seriously,” strengthening the criticism.
• Example 5:
  • 这本书里的信息早就过时了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè běn shū lǐ de xìnxī zǎo jiù guòshí le.
  • English: The information in this book has been outdated for a long time.
  • Analysis: `早就 (zǎo jiù)` emphasizes that this isn't a recent development; the information became outdated long ago.
• Example 6:
  • 这种技术在十年前很先进，但现在完全过时了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng jìshù zài shí nián qián hěn xiānjìn, dàn xiànzài wánquán guòshí le.
  • English: This kind of technology was very advanced ten years ago, but now it's completely obsolete.
  • Analysis: This sentence structure provides a direct contrast between the past (`十年前`) and the present (`现在`).
• Example 7:
  • 别笑我过时，我就是喜欢听老歌。
  • Pinyin: Bié xiào wǒ guòshí, wǒ jiùshì xǐhuān tīng lǎo gē.
  • English: Don't laugh at me for being old-fashioned; I just like listening to old songs.
  • Analysis: Here, a person can be described as `过时`, meaning their tastes or habits are not current. It's used defensively here.
• Example 8:
  • 许多传统的手工艺因为跟不上时代而过时了。
  • Pinyin: Xǔduō chuántǒng de shǒugōngyì yīnwèi gēnbushàng shídài ér guòshí le.
  • English: Many traditional crafts have become obsolete because they couldn't keep up with the times.
  • Analysis: This links `过时` directly with the concept of `跟不上时代 (gēnbushàng shídài)` - “failing to keep up with the times.”
• Example 9:
  • 我们必须更新我们的策略，旧的方法已经过时了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū gēngxīn wǒmen de cèlüè, jiù de fāngfǎ yǐjīng guòshí le.
  • English: We must update our strategy; the old methods are already obsolete.
  • Analysis: A common phrase in a business or planning context. It highlights the need for change.
• Example 10:
  • 这个词的用法有点过时，现在年轻人不这么说了。
  • Pinyin: Zhège cí de yòngfǎ yǒudiǎn guòshí, xiànzài niánqīngrén bù zhème shuō le.
  • English: The usage of this word is a bit dated; young people don't talk like that anymore.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates that even language and slang can become `过时`.

• `过时` (guòshí) vs. `老` (lǎo): This is the most common pitfall for learners.
  • `老 (lǎo)` means “old.” It can be neutral (老朋友 - old friend), respectful (老师 - teacher), or simply descriptive (老房子 - old house). An old house can be beautiful.
  • `过时 (guòshí)` means “outdated” and is negative. It implies something is no longer functional or desirable due to progress. An `老房子 (lǎo fángzi)` is an old house, but if its wiring and plumbing are non-functional, then those systems are `过时`.
  • Incorrect: `我的朋友很过时。` (Wǒ de péngyǒu hěn guòshí.) This would mean your friend's ideas or style are outdated, not that they are old in age. To say your friend is old, you'd say `我的朋友很老` or more politely, `年纪大了 (niánjì dà le)`.
• `过时` (guòshí) vs. `过期` (guòqī): These sound similar but are very different.
  • `过期 (guòqī)` means “expired.” It's used for things with a fixed, official expiration date, like food, medicine, or a passport. (e.g., 牛奶过期了 - The milk has expired.)
  • `过时 (guòshí)` is about becoming irrelevant due to the passage of time and trends. A VCR isn't `过期`; it's `过时`.
• Forgetting the Negative Connotation: `过时` is not the word for “vintage” or “retro.” Using it to describe a cool, old-style leather jacket would be a mistake. The listener would understand that you think the jacket is unfashionable and undesirable. For a positive “retro” vibe, use `复古 (fùgǔ)`.

• 新潮 (xīncháo) - Trendy, fashionable. The direct antonym of `过时`.
• 落后 (luòhòu) - To lag behind; backward. Similar to `过时`, but often implies a state of underdevelopment rather than just being out of style. A country's economy can be `落后`, while a phone is `过时`.
• 陈旧 (chénjiù) - Stale, outmoded, old. A very close synonym for `过时`, often used for equipment, facilities, or ideas.
• 老式 (lǎoshì) - Old-fashioned, old-style. Another close synonym, often used to describe the physical style of objects like furniture or architecture.
• 淘汰 (táotài) - To be phased out, to eliminate through competition. This is the *verb* for what happens to things that become `过时`. For example: “This outdated phone has been phased out by the market.” (这款过时的手机被市场淘汰了。)
• 复古 (fùgǔ) - Retro, vintage; to revive old styles. The positive counterpart to `过时`. It describes a deliberate and fashionable return to older styles.
• 跟上时代 (gēn shàng shídài) - To keep up with the times. The action one takes to avoid becoming `过时`.
• 过期 (guòqī) - Expired. A “false friend” that refers to passing a fixed expiration date (like for food or a visa), not becoming outdated by trends.