一会儿

yī huì r

a moment

HSK 3

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"一会儿" (yī huìr) is a common time expression in Mandarin Chinese meaning "a moment" or "a short while." It often refers to a near future time or a brief period. It can be used to indicate something happening soon or to ask someone to wait briefly.

Different Contexts

  1. Near Future Event: Used to talk about something that will happen shortly, e.g., "一会儿" (I'll be back in a moment).
  2. Short Rest or Pause: Suggesting a brief break, e.g., "休息一会儿" (Rest for a moment first).
  3. Mood or State Changes: Describing quick changes in mood or condition, e.g., "一会儿高兴一会儿生气" (He is happy one moment, angry the next).

Common Collocations

Notes

"一会儿" is often interchangeable with "" or "一会儿" (in northern dialects), but "一会儿" is the most standard and widely used form. It is informal and suitable for everyday conversation. Avoid confusing it with "" without the , which can sometimes be less colloquial.

When used repeatedly in a sentence, it can emphasize quick alternation or instability, especially in describing emotions or actions.

Example Sentences

我一会儿就回来,请你先等我一下。

Wǒ yī huìr jiù huílái, qǐng nǐ xiān děng wǒ yí xià.

I'll be back in a moment, please wait for me first.

我们一会儿见,别走太远。

Wǒmen yī huìr jiàn, bié zǒu tài yuǎn.

We'll see each other in a little while, don't go too far.

你先休息一会儿,等会儿我们再出发。

Nǐ xiān xiūxi yī huìr, děng huìr wǒmen zài chūfā.

Rest for a moment first, then we'll set off later.

他一会儿高兴,一会儿又生气,情绪很不稳定。

Tā yī huìr gāoxìng, yī huìr yòu shēngqì, qíngxù hěn bù wěndìng.

He is happy for a moment, then angry the next; his mood is very unstable.

请你一会儿帮我看一下这个文件。

Qǐng nǐ yī huìr bāng wǒ kàn yí xià zhège wénjiàn.

Please help me look at this document for a moment.