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一会儿 (yī huì r) — (quantifier) a short while; a moment; (adverb) in a moment; soon

Definition

Common spoken phrase for 'a short while / in a moment' — used for both duration and 'soon'. 稍后 is more formal/written; 片刻 is more literary, often in writing.

quantifier
a short whilea moment
adverb
in a momentsoon

Examples

  • 一会儿。
    Qǐng nǐ děng yī huì r.
    Please wait a moment.
  • 一会儿。
    Tā yī huì r jiù huí lái.
    He'll be back in a moment.
  • 一会儿。
    Nǐ yī huì r zài lái ba.
    Come again in a little while.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

一会one interval
一yīone会huìa short interval
偏正Modifier + head
儿érerhua

一 gives one, 会 gives a short interval, and 儿 makes the spoken form.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

Open 一 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 會; 会 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
合合héto meet
Sound part声符shēngfú
𡆧
𡆧𡆧會huì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

Traditional 會 pairs 合 (to meet) with 𡆧, an original form for ironware, to give the sound. The simplified 会 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the original parts.

Open 会 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape 儿 is a simple drawing of a standing person, used as an alternate form of the character for person.

Open 儿 →

Grammar

Appears in
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