Meaning
片刻 means a very brief period of time, typically just a moment or a few minutes. It emphasizes the shortness of the duration and is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese to indicate that something will happen soon or that something lasted only briefly.
Usage
片刻 is slightly more formal than colloquial time expressions like 一会儿. It's frequently used in written contexts, news reports, and polite speech. Common patterns include 片刻之后 (after a moment) and 稍等片刻 (please wait a moment). Native speakers often use it to politely ask someone to wait briefly.
Examples
- 01请稍等片刻，我马上回来。, .Please wait a moment, I'll be right back.
- 02片刻之后，天空突然下起了大雨。, .After a moment, it suddenly started pouring rain from the sky.
Characters
Common collocations
- 片刻之后after a moment
- 稍等片刻please wait a moment
- 片刻不停without stopping for a moment
- 片刻功夫in just a moment's time
Antonyms
Origin
刻 originally referred to a quarter of an hour (15 minutes) on traditional timekeeping devices. 片 means a thin slice or fragment, suggesting something incomplete or brief. Together they emphasize an extremely short fragment of time.