a while; some time
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesmeasure word
a period of time; a while; a moment
informalColloquial measure word used to indicate a short, indefinite period of time spent on an activity. Commonly used in spoken Mandarin, particularly in northern dialects. Often interchangeable with '一会儿' but carries a more rustic or casual nuance.
Wǒ我
men们
shuō说
le了
yí一
huì会
zi子
huà话
。
We chatted for a while.
Tā他
hē喝
le了
huì会
zi子
chá茶
jiù就
zǒu走
le了
。
He drank tea for a while and then left.
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Nǐ你
děng等
huì会
zi子
，
wǒ我
mǎ马
shàng上
jiù就
lái来
。
You wait a moment, I'll be right there.
Zhè这
yǔ雨
xià下
le了
hǎo好
yí一
huì会
zi子
le了
。
It's been raining for quite a while now.