<p>The meaning just differs.</p>
<p>When 一会儿 is used as an adverbial, i.e. before a verb, it means &quot;in a while&quot;, &quot;shortly&quot;. It's understood that <strong>the action to be set in the future</strong>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>别着急，公交车一会儿就来了 = don't worry, the bus will arrive shortly</p>
</blockquote>
<p>When 一会儿 is used as a complement, i.e. after a verb, it means &quot;a little while&quot;, or &quot;a little longer&quot; if 再 is present. <strong>It identifies a time duration</strong>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>我想看一会儿电视 = I want to watch a bit of TV</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-09-13T04:23:53.077Z
Certain grammar systems would call it a complement in either position, and others (and even the same), an adverbial in either position, but in any event, of course you have the meanings correct for the two different positions. A simple way to distinguish them is "in a while" before the verb versus "for a while" after.
RJH
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-16T09:37:08.710Z
2020-08-16T09:37:08.710Z
blackgreen
<p>I have seen some sentences where 一会儿 (yīhuìr), meaning <em>in a while</em> / <em>in a moment</em>, is placed <strong>before the verb</strong> and in some others, <strong>after the verb</strong>.</p>
<p><strong>Is there some rule for deciding the position, are both positions fine or the position depends on the particular case and is somewhat idiomatic?</strong></p>
<p>Some examples:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Before the verb</p>
<blockquote>
<p>我们<strong>一会儿见</strong>！</p>
<p>Wǒmen <strong>yīhuìr jiàn</strong>!</p>
<p>See you later!</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>我<strong>一会儿去找</strong>你。</p>
<p>Wǒ <strong>yīhuìr qù zhǎo</strong> nǐ。</p>
<p>I'll look for you in a while.</p>
</blockquote>
</li>
<li><p>After the verb</p>
<blockquote>
<p>忙什么，再<strong>坐一会儿</strong>吧。</p>
<p>Máng shénme, zài <strong>zuò yīhuìr</strong> ba.</p>
<p>What's the hurry? Stay a bit longer.</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>稍<strong>等一会儿</strong>。</p>
<p>Shāo <strong>děng yīhuìr</strong>.</p>
<p>Please wait a moment.</p>
</blockquote>
</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-16T09:30:44.453Z
In your third example, 一会儿 does not mean "in a while/in a moment". That should give you a hint.
dROOOze
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-16T09:42:10.863Z
@dROOOze was the fourth example wrong? I took it from the [Line dictionary](https://dict.naver.com/linedict/zhendict/dict.html#/cnen/example/599ad77feaae46dc9677ed765fa8476a/detail).
Puco4
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-16T09:46:13.603Z
IMO "少等一会儿" is wrong, it should be "稍等一会儿". Looks like a typo. If enough people think "少等一会儿" is OK you can revert the edit, but I've never seen this expression before.
dROOOze
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-16T22:16:12.167Z
@dROOOze 少等一会儿 can be valid in the example, 如果我早来十分钟，你就可以'少'等一会儿。The opposite is 多等一会儿, e. g. 让他多等一会儿. But 少等一会儿 standalone doesn't look a complete sentence.
dan
<grammar><usage><sentence-structure>
When does 一会儿 go before / after the verb?
# When does 一会儿 go before / after the verb?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-08-16)

I have seen some sentences where 一会儿 (yīhuìr), meaning *in a while* / *in a moment*, is placed **before the verb** and in some others, **after the verb**.

**Is there some rule for deciding the position, are both positions fine or the position depends on the particular case and is somewhat idiomatic?**

Some examples:

* Before the verb

  > 我们**一会儿见**！
  >
  > Wǒmen **yīhuìr jiàn**!
  >
  > See you later!

  > 我**一会儿去找**你。
  >
  > Wǒ **yīhuìr qù zhǎo** nǐ。
  >
  > I'll look for you in a while.
* After the verb

  > 忙什么，再**坐一会儿**吧。
  >
  > Máng shénme, zài **zuò yīhuìr** ba.
  >
  > What's the hurry? Stay a bit longer.

  > 稍**等一会儿**。
  >
  > Shāo **děng yīhuìr**.
  >
  > Please wait a moment.

**Tags:** grammar, usage, sentence-structure

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: In your third example, 一会儿 does not mean "in a while/in a moment". That should give you a hint.  
> **username_0**: @username_1 was the fourth example wrong? I took it from the [Line dictionary](https://dict.naver.com/linedict/zhendict/dict.html#/cnen/example/599ad77feaae46dc9677ed765fa8476a/detail).  
> **username_1**: IMO "少等一会儿" is wrong, it should be "稍等一会儿". Looks like a typo. If enough people think "少等一会儿" is OK you can revert the edit, but I've never seen this expression before.  
> **username_2**: @username_1 少等一会儿 can be valid in the example, 如果我早来十分钟，你就可以'少'等一会儿。The opposite is 多等一会儿, e. g. 让他多等一会儿. But 少等一会儿 standalone doesn't look a complete sentence.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2020-08-16. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

The meaning just differs.

When 一会儿 is used as an adverbial, i.e. before a verb, it means "in a while", "shortly". It's understood that **the action to be set in the future**.

> 别着急，公交车一会儿就来了 = don't worry, the bus will arrive shortly

When 一会儿 is used as a complement, i.e. after a verb, it means "a little while", or "a little longer" if 再 is present. **It identifies a time duration**.

> 我想看一会儿电视 = I want to watch a bit of TV

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: Certain grammar systems would call it a complement in either position, and others (and even the same), an adverbial in either position, but in any event, of course you have the meanings correct for the two different positions. A simple way to distinguish them is "in a while" before the verb versus "for a while" after.  

---

