Chinese word

这会儿

Pronunciation

Pinyinzhè huìr

Meaning

  • adverbnow

Example

这会儿外面下雨了。zhè huìr wài miàn xià yǔ le

It's raining outside now.

Illustration for 这会儿 (now)

More examples

我这会儿没空，晚上再联系吧。wǒ zhè huìr méi kòng wǎn shàng zài lián xì ba

I'm not free right now, so let's get in touch again tonight.

Core concept

A small window of time that includes what is happening at this moment.

Common phrases

  • 这会儿没空zhè huìr méi kòng

    not free right now

  • 这会儿不方便zhè huìr bù fāng biàn

    not convenient right now

  • 这会儿来得及zhè huìr lái de jí

    still have time

Similar words

现在xiàn zài: Means at the present time in a broad, neutral way.
这时候zhè shí hòu: Means at a certain time or in a certain situation, often pointing to that moment.
眼下yǎn xià: Means at present, with attention to the situation directly before us.
目前mù qián: Means currently or at present, with a style that suits formal and written contexts.

Definition in Chinese

口语副词，用来表示现在正发生的事或此时此刻，语气随意，常见于日常对话。kóu yǔ fù cí yòng lái biǎo shì xiàn zài zhèng fā shēng de shì huò cǐ shí cǐ kè yǔ qì suí yì cháng jiàn yú rì cháng duì huà

Word origin

The expression combines 这 (zhè, "this") with 会儿 (huìr, "short while"), narrowing a general reference to the brief period around the present.

Usage tips

  • English speakers often use now in both casual and formal settings, while this Chinese adverb strongly signals an informal everyday register.

Other meanings

  • right nowadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word