‘临时’ (lín shí) is an adjective meaning 'temporary' or 'provisional' — describing something that exists or is used only for a short time, not permanently. The character 临 (lín) means 'to approach' or 'to be near', and 时 (shí) means 'time'; together, they evoke the idea of something happening 'at this moment' or 'for the present time', implying impermanence and immediacy.

This word commonly modifies nouns (e.g., 临时工 'temporary worker', 临时住所 'temporary accommodation') and often appears in administrative, work-related, or everyday practical contexts — such as scheduling, staffing, or emergency arrangements. It carries a neutral to slightly formal register and is rarely used for abstract or emotional states. Unlike English 'temporary', it is almost never used predicatively without a noun (you wouldn’t say *他很临时*); it functions attributively, directly before a noun.