CST

CST is an acronym that can refer to several concepts across geography, science, and technology. The two most common uses are time zones, where CST denotes Central Standard Time and, in some contexts, China Standard Time.

Central Standard Time (CST) is the time zone that covers the central part of North America during standard time. It is UTC-6, and during daylight saving time it becomes Central Daylight Time (CDT), which is UTC-5. This time standard is used by portions of the United States and Canada, and parts of Mexico, among others, depending on regional time policies.

China Standard Time (CST) is UTC+8 and is used by Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. It does not observe daylight saving time. Although there is overlap in the abbreviation, China Standard Time is distinct from Central Standard Time in both its offset from Coordinated Universal Time and its geographic usage.

Other uses of the acronym CST exist in various fields and contexts, where it can stand for terms or organizations specific to a particular domain. Because there is no single universally accepted meaning beyond the common time-zone references, the intended interpretation of CST usually depends on the surrounding text or conversation.

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