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会儿 (huì r) — (colloquial) short while, moment (used in fixed phrases like 一会儿, 这会儿, 那会儿)

Definition

A colloquial measure of time meaning 'a while / a moment', used only in fixed phrases like 一会儿 ('a little while'), 这会儿 ('right now'), 那会儿 ('back then'). It does not stand alone.

noun
(colloquial) short whilemoment (used in fixed phrases like 一会儿, 这会儿, 那会儿)

Examples

  • ，。
    Nǐ děng yí huì r, wǒ mǎ shàng jiù lái.
    Wait a moment, I'll be right there.
  • ，。
    Nà huì r tiān qì hěn lěng, jiē shàng méi shén me rén.
    It was cold at that time, and there weren't many people on the street.
  • ，。
    Zhè huì r tā zhèng zài kāi huì, bù fāng biàn jiē diàn huà.
    Right now he's in a meeting and not available to take the call.

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.

会huìshort time
儿érer

会儿 means a short time: 会 denotes a brief period, and 儿 is the familiar spoken sound for such moments.

Characters in this word

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 →
Appears in
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