一会儿
yíhuìr
A little while
一会儿 (yī huì ér) — alternating actions and states
Subject + 一会儿 (yíhuìr) + Verb/Adj., 一会儿 (yíhuìr) + Verb/Adj.
HSK 33.0
Pattern diagram
Who / what一会儿Action，一会儿Action
Rule structure
Repeated 一会儿 (yī huì ér) (yíhuìr) links alternating actions or states: “one moment …, the next ….” Both parts usually refer to the same person or thing. The actions alternate rather than happen simultaneously.
Rule structure
Repeated 一会儿 (yī huì ér) (yíhuìr) links alternating actions or states: “one moment …, the next ….” Both parts usually refer to the same person or thing. The actions alternate rather than happen simultaneously.
Examples
他一会儿哭，一会儿笑。
Tā yíhuìr kū, yíhuìr xiào.
He cries one moment and laughs the next.
天气一会儿冷，一会儿热。
Tiānqì yíhuìr lěng, yíhuìr rè.
The weather is cold one moment and hot the next.
Examples
他一会儿哭，一会儿笑。
Tā yíhuìr kū, yíhuìr xiào.
He cries one moment and laughs the next.
天气一会儿冷，一会儿热。
Tiānqì yíhuìr lěng, yíhuìr rè.
The weather is cold one moment and hot the next.
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Words from this rule
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “alternating actions and states” in Chinese with 一会儿?
Use the structure: Subject + 一会儿 (yíhuìr) + Verb/Adj., 一会儿 (yíhuìr) + Verb/Adj.. For example: 他一会儿哭，一会儿笑。 — “He cries one moment and laughs the next”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
他一会儿哭，一会儿笑。 — “He cries one moment and laughs the next”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 3.0 Level 3.
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More HSK 3.0 Level 3 grammar rules
或者 — or in statements
⋯⋯或者 (huòzhě)⋯⋯
不是……吗？ — rhetorical questions
不 (bù) 是 (shì)…… 吗 (ma)？
极了 — extremely, very
Adj. + 极了 (jí le)
得很 — very, extremely
Adj. + 得很 (de hěn)
先 — first… then…
先 (xiān)……, 再 (zài)……
一边 — doing two things at once
一边 (yìbiān) + Verb 1, 一边 (yìbiān) + Verb 2
又 — again in the past
又 (yòu) + Verb + 了 (le)
一直 — all along, continuously
Subj. + 一直 (yìzhí) + Verb/Adj.