n.
- 一會兒，一段時間[S]
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I'll be back in a
while.
我一會兒就回來。
conj.
- 當……的時候，和……同時
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She listened closely
while he read the letter.
他讀信時，她聽得很仔細。
I'll take care of your children
while you are away.
你不在時我會照顧你的孩子的。
We must strike
while the iron is hot.
我們必須打鐵趁熱。
- 而，然而
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I like tea
while she likes coffee.
我喜歡喝茶，而她喜歡喝咖啡。
- 雖然，儘管
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While I like the color of the hat, I do not like its shape.
雖然我喜歡這頂帽子的顏色，但我不喜歡它的形狀。
- 只要
vt.
- 消磨（時光），輕鬆地度過[（+away）]
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He
whiled away the whole afternoon watching TV.
他看電視消磨了一個下午。
片語
all the while
- 一直
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The target's getting lower
all the while.
指標一直在下降。
all this while
- 有好久；這陣子
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Where have you been
all this while?
這陣子你在哪裡？
make it worth sb.'s while
- 酬謝某人
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The work's not pleasant, but I promise you I'll
make it worth your while.
這工作是不太愉快，可是我向你保證，我會酬謝你的。
worth sb.'s while
- 值得某人花時間（或精力）的
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It isn't
worth your while going there.
你到那兒去不值得。
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’.
