一下 yīxià a little bit/while
a little bit/while; one time; once
How to remember 一下: 一 one + 下 down = a little bit/while.
Characters
How it is used
- Put after a verb to make the action brief and casual - 看一下 (kàn yíxià) take a quick look, 等一下 hold on a sec.
- Softens a request the way English 'just... for a bit' does; similar to reduplicating the verb (看看).
- 一 lowers to yí here before the fourth tone 下.
Example sentences
- 我出去一下。 Wǒ chūqù yíxià.I'm going out for a bit.
- 我去一下洗手间。 Wǒ qù yíxià xǐshǒujiān.I'm going to the washroom.
- 让我来介绍一下,这是我的校长。 Ràng wǒ lái jièshào yī xià zhè shì wǒde xiàozhǎng.Allow me to introduce you, this is my principal.
- 让我考虑一下。 Ràng wǒ kǎolǜ yī xià.Let me think it over.