Phrase
a while
noun
一会儿；片刻
a period of time, especially a short one
一会儿
In use
Please wait here for a while.
I haven't seen him for a while.
Let's sit down and rest for a while.
for a while
Please sit down and rest for a while.
请坐下休息一会儿。
after a while
After a while, the rain stopped.
过了一会儿，雨停了。
a while ago
I saw him a while ago.
我刚才看见他了。
in a while
I'll be back in a while.
我一会儿就回来。
Common mistakes
I have been waiting here a while.I have been waiting here for a while.
在表示持续一段时间时，'a while' 作为名词短语，需要介词 'for' 引导时间状语，否则句子结构不完整。
I will be back a while.I will be back in a while.
'a while' 不能直接作时间状语表示'过一会儿'，必须用介词 'in' 或 'after' 构成介词短语。
Connections
Confusing words
- awhile
- 片刻 · 用法不同：'a while' 是名词短语，'awhile' 是副词。
Word family
- while
- 一会儿 · n
- meanwhile
- 与此同时 · adv
- worthwhile
- 值得的 · adj
- whilst
- 当...的时候 · conj
- while away
- 消磨（时间） · v
Dictionary facts from ECDICT.