<p><a href="https://www.zdic.net/hans/%E4%B8%BA%E6%97%B6" rel="nofollow noreferrer">为时</a> - 为时是汉语词汇，意思是<strong>从</strong>时间上看。</p>
<p>為時已晚 - Already too late.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-08-04T22:48:06.193Z
2024-08-04T23:07:26.500Z
2024-08-04T23:07:26.500Z
r13
<p><strong>为时已晚</strong>: 太晚了：表示某个时间点已经过去，无法再进行某项活动或完成某个任务。</p>
<blockquote>
<p>My question is what does 為 mean here?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>为 has so many meanings! This one seems to fit the bill.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>(4) 表示动作行为所向，可译为“向”、“对”、“朝” [facing to;toward]</p>
<p>为具言所闻。——晋· 陶渊明《桃花源记》<br />
不足为外人道。<br />
为弟子说前代事。——清· 周容《芋老人传》</p>
</blockquote>
<p>为: regarding<br />
时: (the) time<br />
已晚: (it is) already late</p>
<p>Old Motown song:</p>
<p>为时已晚宝宝现在为时已晚<br />
It’s too late Baby now, it’s too late,<br />
虽然我们真的试过了。<br />
though we really did try to make it.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-08-05T10:33:09.320Z
2024-08-05T10:33:09.320Z
Pedroski
<p>為時已晚 means it's too late.</p>
<p>時已晚 literally means the time is late or it's too late.</p>
<p>My question is what does 為 mean here? It seems excessive and unnecessary.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-08-05T00:34:38.197Z
Most proverb are fixed in four words.  Sometimes some extra words are added just to make up four words.
James
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-08-05T00:46:53.060Z
i.g. `無影無蹤` ← 無影蹤,  `無所不知` ← 無不知
James
<meaning>
Meaning of 為時已晚
# Meaning of 為時已晚

(Asked by: username_0 on 2024-08-04)

為時已晚 means it's too late.

時已晚 literally means the time is late or it's too late.

My question is what does 為 mean here? It seems excessive and unnecessary.

**Tags:** meaning
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Most proverb are fixed in four words.  Sometimes some extra words are added just to make up four words.  
> **username_1**: i.g. `無影無蹤` ← 無影蹤,  `無所不知` ← 無不知  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2024-08-04. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

[为时](https://www.zdic.net/hans/%E4%B8%BA%E6%97%B6) - 为时是汉语词汇，意思是**从**时间上看。

為時已晚 - Already too late.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2024-08-05. Score: 0

**为时已晚**: 太晚了：表示某个时间点已经过去，无法再进行某项活动或完成某个任务。

> My question is what does 為 mean here?

为 has so many meanings! This one seems to fit the bill.

> (4) 表示动作行为所向，可译为“向”、“对”、“朝” [facing to;toward]
>
> 为具言所闻。——晋· 陶渊明《桃花源记》  
> 不足为外人道。  
> 为弟子说前代事。——清· 周容《芋老人传》

为: regarding  
时: (the) time  
已晚: (it is) already late

Old Motown song:

为时已晚宝宝现在为时已晚  
It’s too late Baby now, it’s too late,  
虽然我们真的试过了。  
though we really did try to make it.


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