a short while; a moment
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
a short while; a little while; a moment
informalColloquial expression often used in negative contexts (e.g., something won't stop/finish soon) or to indicate that an action requires more than a brief moment. The suffix 儿 indicates northern colloquial usage.
Zhè这
chǎng场
yǔ雨
yī一
shí时
bàn半
huì会
r儿
tíng停
bù不
liǎo了
。
This rain won't stop for a short while yet.
Tā他
yī一
shí时
bàn半
huì会
r儿
dào到
bù不
liǎo了
，
wǒ我
men们
xiān先
kāi开
shǐ始
ba吧
。
He won't arrive for a little while, so let's start first.
Show 2 more examplesShow fewer examples
Zhè这
me么
dà大
de的
gōng工
chéng程
，
yī一
shí时
bàn半
huì会
r儿
wán完
bù不
chéng成
。
A project this big can't be finished in a short time.
Nǐ你
jí急
shén什
me么
？
Zhè这
shì事
yī一
shí时
bàn半
huì会
r儿
jiě解
jué决
bù不
liǎo了
。
What's the rush? This matter can't be resolved in just a moment.