HSK · Level 65
90 words
Chinese word
阵
Pronunciation
Pinyinzhèn
Meaning
- measure wordspell
Example
外面刮了一阵风。wài miàn guā le yí zhèn fēng
The wind blew outside for a spell.
More examples
他休息了一阵子，就又开始工作。tā xiū xī le yí zhèn zi jiù yòu kāi shǐ gōng zuò
He rested for a while, then started working again.
Core concept
A compact unit that gathers as one, either an organized formation or a brief wave of activity.
Common phrases
一阵子yí zhèn zi
a while
一阵风yí zhèn fēng
gust of wind
Similar words
回huí: A measure word counting a single time that an action or event takes place.
次cì: A general measure word counting occurrences of actions and events.
遍biàn: A measure word counting one full run through an action or task.
顿dùn: A measure word marking one sitting for a meal or one brief round of an action.
Definition in Chinese
用作量词，用来表示短时间内一次性或短暂重复出现的一段时间，常与风、雨、声音、动作等搭配，例如“外面刮了一阵风”。yòng zuò liàng cí yòng lái biǎo shì duǎn shí jiān nèi yí cì xìng huò duǎn zàn chóng fù chū xiàn de yí duàn shí jiān cháng yǔ fēng yǔ shēng yīn dòng zuò děng dā pèi lì rú wài miàn guā le yí zhèn fēng
Word origin
阵 (zhèn, "formation; spell") first referred to a military formation, and this idea of one organized unit extended to a short, bounded occurrence.
Usage tips
- English often uses a separate phrase such as "for a while", while Chinese can place this measure word after a verb to mark one bounded period of activity.
Other meanings
- burstmeasure word
- battle formationnoun
Related words
- 阵子zhèn ziwhilenoun
- 阵雨zhèn yǔshowernoun
- 阵风zhèn fēnggust of windnoun