Kairos
Kairos is the right moment — when circumstances have opened a window that will close again.
Full definition of Kairos →:: COMPARE ::
KairosvsChronos
The short answer
Chronos is quantitative — clock time, measurable duration. Kairos is qualitative — a moment identified by its suitability, not its length. These are two different Greek words, not two senses of one, and treating them as a pair of opposites is the useful move.
Side by side
| Aspect | Kairos | Chronos |
|---|---|---|
| Measures | Fitness | Duration |
| Answer to 'when' | Now, or never | At 3pm |
| Can be scheduled | No | Yes |
| Latin | occasio | tempus |
What each one means
Chronos
The contrast above sets out how Chronos differs from Kairos on the points that actually matter.