俄 (é) — (bound form, literary) presently; suddenly

Definition

Classical/literary bound form meaning 'suddenly; in a moment'. Never stands alone — it always combines with 而 (俄而) or 顷 (俄顷) as a set phrase. Far more formal than the colloquial 突然.

bound form
(bound form, literary) presentlysuddenly
Easily confused

Examples

  • 俄。
    Tā é ér zhàn le qǐ lái.
    He stood up suddenly.
  • 俄顷，。
    é Qǐng zhī jiān, yǔ jiù tíng le.
    In a moment, the rain stopped.
  • 俄。
    Wǒ men é ér tīng dào yī shēng jù xiǎng.
    We suddenly heard a loud noise.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
我
我wǒ俄é
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

俄 pairs 亻 (person) with 我, which gives the sound.

Appears in
Time (Abstract)

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