n.
- 一会儿,一段时间[S]
I'll be back in a
while.
我一会儿就回来。
conj.
- 当……的时候,和……同时
She listened closely
while he read the letter.
他读信时,她听得很仔细。
I'll take care of your children
while you are away.
你不在时我会照顾你的孩子的。
We must strike
while the iron is hot.
我们必须趁热打铁。
- 而,然而
I like tea
while she likes coffee.
我喜欢喝茶,而她喜欢喝咖啡。
- 虽然,尽管
While I like the color of the hat, I do not like its shape.
虽然我喜欢这顶帽子的颜色,但我不喜欢它的形状。
- 只要
vt.
- 消磨(时光),轻松地度过[(+away)]
He
whiled away the whole afternoon watching TV.
他看电视消磨了一个下午。
短语
all the while
- 一直
The target's getting lower
all the while.
指标一直在下降。
all this while
- 有好久;这阵子
Where have you been
all this while?
这阵子你在哪里?
make it worth sb.'s while
- 酬谢某人
The work's not pleasant, but I promise you I'll
make it worth your while.
这工作是不太愉快,可是我向你保证,我会酬谢你的。
worth sb.'s while
- 值得某人花时间(或精力)的
It isn't
worth your while going there.
你到那儿去不值得。
辨析
n.
-
(a while)
a period of time.
▸for some time.
-
(the while)
at the same time; meanwhile.
▸literary during the time that.
conj.
- at the same time as.
- whereas (indicating a contrast).
▸although.
rel. adv.
during which.
v.
(
while time away)
pass time in a leisurely manner.
prep.
N. English until.
Phrase
- worth while
(or worth one's while)
worth the time or effort spent.
Usage
On the distinction between worth while and worthwhile, see usage at worthwhile.
Etymology
OE hwīl ‘period of time’, of Gmc origin; the conjunction is an abbrev. of OE thā hwīle the ‘the while that’.