HSK Guide

一下 yíxià — a bit, for a moment (softening a request)

yíxià (second tone, rising)yi2xia4

a bit, for a moment (softening a request)

HSK 2· HSK 1–4 (classic)measure
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Meanings

  1. a bit, for a moment (softening a request)

    Placed after the verb to make an action brief and the request polite: 看一下, 等一下, 休息一下. It never comes before the verb.

    measure

Character breakdown

  • 下
    xià (fourth tone, falling)

    below, under, lower; to go down, to get off; to fall (of rain or snow); next (下个月)

    3 strokesRadical 一

Example sentences

  • 你看一下这个字。你看一下這個字。Nǐ (third tone, dipping) kàn (fourth tone, falling) yíxià (second tone, rising) zhège (fourth tone, falling) zì. (fourth tone, falling)···

    Have a quick look at this character.

  • 我想休息一下。Wǒ (third tone, dipping) xiǎng (third tone, dipping) xiūxi (first tone, high and level) yíxià. (second tone, rising)···

    I’d like to rest for a moment.

Common mistakes

  • Not quite一下看这个字。

    Correct看一下这个字。

    一下 counts the action, so it follows the verb, exactly as 两次 does. Putting it in front leaves the verb without its measure.

Similar words

Words containing 下