不一会儿

• Pinyin: bù yī huìr
• Hanzi breakdown: 不 (bù) — not; 一 (yī) — one; 会 (huì) — moment; 儿 (r) — diminutive suffix

Meaning

In no time; shortly after. Indicates that something happened very soon.

Used as a time expression to show that very little time passed before something occurred. Often appears at the beginning of a clause. Similar to 一会儿 but emphasises the brevity even more.

Examples

1. 不一会儿，雨就停了。 Before long, the rain stopped.
2. 他出去买东西，不一会儿就回来了。 He went out to buy things and came back very soon.
3. 不一会儿，饭就做好了。 In no time, the food was ready.

Usage Guide

Context: narration, describing quick events, everyday speech

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 不一会儿，他就到了。(Before long, he arrived.)
• 不一会儿，天就黑了。(It got dark in no time.)

Don't Say

• 不一会儿我明天去 — 不一会儿 refers to a short time that has already passed, not future plans. Use 一会儿 for the near future.

Origin & History

Compound of 不 (not even) and 一会儿 (a moment). Literally 'not even a moment,' emphasising how quickly something happened.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal