Word · CEFR B1 · Frequency #173
while
一会儿；一段时间
A period of time, especially a short one.
- 1.
An uncertain duration of time, a period of time.
不确定的时间段,一段时间
- 2.
a period of indeterminate length (usually short) marked by some action or condition
一段不确定的(通常短暂的)时间,以某种行动或条件为标志
不确定的时间段,一段时间；一段不确定的(通常短暂的)时间,以某种行动或条件为标志；一会儿；(一段)时间
In use
Let's sit here for a while and watch the sunset.
After a while, the coffee began to cool down.
It took me a while to finish the puzzle.
he was here for a little while
Connections
Collocations
- a while
- 一段时间
- I waited for a while, but she didn't come.我等了一会儿，但她没来。
- for a while
- 暂时；一会儿
- He decided to rest for a while.他决定休息一会儿。
- in a while
- 不久；过一会儿
- I'll be back in a while.我一会儿就回来。
- after a while
- 过了一会儿
- After a while, the rain stopped.过了一会儿，雨停了。
- quite a while
- 相当长的一段时间
- It's been quite a while since we last met.自从我们上次见面已经很长时间了。
- a little while
- 一小段时间
Learner notes
Memory Tip
while 作名词指‘一会儿’，音近‘外’，联想：在‘外’等了一会儿。
Context & Register
中性；多用于非正式口语或一般叙事，如'for a while'、'a long while'等表达。通常与其他词搭配使用，不单独作主语。
Grammar Note
通常与冠词a连用，表示一段时间。
Pronunciation & Spelling
All listed words share the spelling pattern '-ile' and the pronunciation /aɪl/, making them perfect rhymes. Be cautious of lookalikes like 'whale' (/weɪl/) and 'aisle' (/aɪl/ but spelled differently).
High-value vocabulary
该词属于 Oxford 核心词汇，值得优先掌握常见搭配和句型。
Usage priority
Collins 词频等级为 4，建议结合例句记忆，而不是只背中文释义。
Learn the forms together
页面下方列出了常见词形变化。学习时注意它们在句子中的语法位置。
Dictionary facts from DICTIONARY_API_DEV, ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.