Comparing “línshí” and “zànshí”
临时 vs 暂时
Comparison section · original #26 · level order #119
How it works
Both 临时 (línshí) and 暂时 (zànshí) relate to something not being permanent, but they are not the same.
临时 (línshí) usually means temporary for a specific occasion, short-term because of immediate need, or not planned in advance. It often describes arrangements, decisions, jobs, meetings, or changes made for a particular moment.
暂时 (zànshí) means for the time being, at present, or for now. It focuses more on the current stage of a situation and often suggests that the state may change later.
So the basic difference is:
临时 (línshí) = temporary and often sudden / not planned
暂时 (zànshí) = temporary at the present stage
Example sentences
因为原来的教室在维修，我们只好临时换到三楼上课。
Because the original classroom is under repair, we had to move to the third floor for class temporarily.
这个问题我现在还没有想清楚，暂时不能给你明确答复。
I still have not thought this issue through clearly, so for the time being I cannot give you a definite answer.
公司最近人手不够，所以请了几位临时工作人员帮忙。
The company has recently been short-staffed, so it hired several temporary workers to help.
这件事先这样处理，至于下一步怎么安排，暂时还没决定。
Let’s handle this matter this way first. As for the next step, it has not been decided for the time being.
Key point
A simple way to remember the difference:
临时 (línshí) often modifies a noun: 临时决定 (línshí juédìng), 临时工 (línshí gōng), 临时通知 (línshí tōngzhī)
暂时 (zànshí) often modifies a verb or whole situation: 暂时不去 (zànshí bú qù), 暂时保密 (zànshí bǎomì)