Abstract: Time is one of the most important themes in Chekhovʼs plays. As a play that best represents Chekhovʼs dramatic style, Three Sisters most typically embodies the playwright's writing about time. In his description of daily life, Chekhov strives to reiterate not only the dominating role of time but also its eternal flow in life. The relationship between man and time is further revealed in the play through an exploration of the motif of “waiting”. By unfolding the “waiting” experience of the three sisters, Chekhov expressed his thought that time became the master who could control man's destiny. Accordingly, Chekhovʼs understanding of the relationship between man and time is also reflected in his dramatic concept of deconfliction. The lack of dramatic actions makes Three Sisters static, whereas the staticized stage implies what Chekhov intends to say about the theme of time: the passage of time dissipates the meaning of human action; actions separates from time; and action falls beyond the passage of time. Such a feeling toward time is closely related to Chekhovʼs pursuit of comicality. Chekhovʼs artistic rendition of time in his drama, as represented by Three Sisters, produced not only the comedy spirit within his plays, but also his far-reaching influence on the modern drama in 20^th century.

Key words: A. P. Chekhov, Three Sisters, time