片刻 piànkè short period of time
short period of time; a moment
How to remember 片刻: 片 slice + 刻 quarter (hour) = short period of time.
Characters
How it is used
- A brief moment / short while - 稍等片刻 (shāo děng piànkè) please wait a moment, 片刻之后 (piànkè zhīhòu) a moment later.
- A literary/formal word for a brief span of time; 片 (a sliver) + 刻 (a quarter-hour).
- Contrast 一会儿 (yíhuìr, a while, colloquial); 片刻 is more formal/written.
Example sentences
- 她在那地方待了片刻。 Tā zài nà dìfāng dài le piànkè.She stayed in that area for a short while.