一会儿
Traditional: 一會兒
yī huì r HSK 3

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

我一会儿回家。
Wǒ yīhuìr huí jiā.
I will go home in a moment.
等一会儿。
Děng yīhuìr.
Wait a short while.
他一会儿来。
Tā yīhuìr lái.
He will come in a little while.
我一会儿去。
Wǒ yīhuìr qù.
I will go in a bit.
他一会儿来。
Tā yīhuìr lái.
He will come shortly.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of the 会 (huì) in 一会儿 as a 'meeting'—a meeting usually doesn't last forever, just 'a little while.' The 儿 (r) sound is a common Beijing dialect suffix, reminding you it's casual and spoken.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is very common in informal, spoken Chinese and is also used in casual writing. It is often used in requests, promises, or descriptions of near-future actions. It is rarely used in formal contexts, where alternatives like 片刻 (piànkè) might be preferred.

📖 Grammar Points

Often used in patterns like: Subject + Verb + 一会儿 (e.g., 我休息一会儿); 一会儿 + Verb (e.g., 一会儿我去找你); or Verb + 一会儿 + 就 + Verb (e.g., 我看一会儿书就睡觉). It can also be used alone as a response, like '一会儿!' meaning 'In a moment!'

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, using 一会儿 can soften requests or promises, making them sound more polite and less demanding. It reflects a flexible attitude toward time in casual settings, similar to saying 'just a sec' in English.

🔄 Similar Words

Similar to 片刻 (piànkè) and 马上 (mǎshàng). 片刻 is more formal and literary, emphasizing a very brief moment. 一会儿 is casual and can imply a slightly longer, more flexible duration than 片刻. 马上 means 'immediately' and stresses urgency, while 一会儿 suggests a short but not instantaneous wait.

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