Word · CEFR C1 · Frequency #1612
whilst
/wailst/
conjunction
当...的时候
- 1.
adv. While.
当...的时候；和...同时
和...同时；虽然；只要
In use
She listened to music whilst cooking dinner.
Whilst I agree with your idea, I think we need more time.
He likes coffee, whilst his sister prefers tea.
whilst + clause (temporal)
表示两件事同时发生。
He listened to music whilst he worked.
他一边工作一边听音乐。
whilst + clause (concessive)
表示转折或对比。
Whilst I understand your point, I disagree.
尽管我理解你的观点，但我不同意。
whilst + -ing clause
省略主语，主语与主句相同。
She fell asleep whilst watching TV.
她看电视时睡着了。
Common mistakes
I will be there in a whilst.I will be there in a while.
Whilst是连词，不能用作名词。这里应该用while作为名词，表示'一段时间'。
She stayed home whilst the rain.She stayed home during the rain.
Whilst是连词，后面必须接从句（主语+谓语）。这里表示'在...期间'，应该用介词during。
Connections
Collocations
- whilst waiting
- 在等待的同时
- He read a book whilst waiting for the bus.他在等公交车的同时读了一本书。
- whilst travelling
- 在旅行期间
- She made many friends whilst travelling in Europe.她在欧洲旅行期间交了很多朋友。
- whilst in
- 在...期间
- Whilst in London, he visited the British Museum.在伦敦期间，他参观了大英博物馆。
- whilst at
- 在...的时候
- She fell asleep whilst at her desk.她在办公桌前睡着了。
- whilst on
- 在...期间
- He took many photos whilst on holiday.他在度假期间拍了许多照片。
- whilst still
Learner notes
Memory Tip
将 'whilst' 看作 'while' 的古雅形式，意为'当...的时候'。
Context & Register
通常用于较正式或书面语境，尤其在英式英语中常见；在美式英语中较为少见且多用于正式文体。
Grammar Note
注意：whilst 比 while 更正式，常用于书面语。
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 3，建议结合例句记忆，而不是只背中文释义。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, OCTANOVE, WIKTIONARY.