measure word / adverb HSK 2
a bit · briefly · once · used after verbs to indicate a brief action
Meaning
一下 is placed after verbs to soften the action, making it sound brief, casual, or tentative. It can mean doing something 'a little bit' or 'once.' It makes requests sound more polite and less demanding, and is one of the most common grammatical particles in spoken Mandarin.
Usage
Extremely common in everyday speech. Native speakers use 一下 constantly to make actions sound less abrupt or demanding. Often appears in polite requests (看一下 'take a look') or to indicate trying something briefly (试一下 'give it a try'). Can also indicate a quick, single action.
Examples
- 01请等一下，我马上就来。, .Please wait a moment, I'll be right there.
- 02你可以帮我看一下这个吗？?Can you help me take a look at this?
Characters
Common collocations
- 看一下take a look
- 试一下give it a try
- 等一下wait a moment
- 想一下think about it briefly
Origin
Literally 'one time down,' originally referring to a single downward motion or stroke. Extended to mean any brief or casual action.