一会儿…一会儿…
HSK 4- Conjunctions
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
Expresses two or more different actions or states occurring alternately, changing continuously.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
The structure 一会儿…一会儿… is used to describe a person or thing continuously alternating between two (or more) different states or actions. It emphasizes instability and rapid change, similar to "one moment… the next moment…" in English. The subject is typically shared across both clauses.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 天气一会儿晴，一会儿阴。繁: 天氣一會兒晴，一會兒陰。Tiānqì yíhuìr qíng, yíhuìr yīn.
The weather is sunny one moment and cloudy the next.
- 孩子一会儿哭，一会儿笑。繁: 孩子一會兒哭，一會兒笑。Háizi yíhuìr kū, yíhuìr xiào.
The child cries one moment and laughs the next.
- 他一会儿想学中文，一会儿想学英文。繁: 他一會兒想學中文，一會兒想學英文。Tā yíhuìr xiǎng xué Zhōngwén, yíhuìr xiǎng xué Yīngwén.
He sometimes wants to study Chinese and sometimes wants to study English.
- 她在房间里，一会儿看书，一会儿听音乐。繁: 她在房間裡，一會兒看書，一會兒聽音樂。Tā zài fángjiān lǐ, yíhuìr kàn shū, yíhuìr tīng yīnyuè.
She is in the room, at times reading a book and at times listening to music.
- 这只小狗一会儿跑，一会儿跳。繁: 這隻小狗一會兒跑，一會兒跳。Zhè zhī xiǎo gǒu yíhuìr pǎo, yíhuìr tiào.
This little dog now runs, now jumps.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:他一会儿看书，听音乐。Correct:他一会儿看书，一会儿听音乐。
The structure `一会儿` must be repeated in both clauses to form a paired construction expressing alternating changes.
- Wrong:他一会儿吃了饭，然后一会儿洗了澡。Correct:他一会儿吃饭，一会儿洗澡。
This structure expresses alternation or interweaving, not sequential actions. Do not use with 然后 (then/after that) and typically does not occur with 了.