一下 yíxià
“once; a little; for a moment (after a verb)”
numeral, measure word
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
一下 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 257: 一下 yíxià — Level 1; official annotation 1（4） (数量、（副）). PDF page 86
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 一下
一下 (yíxià) usually follows a verb to soften a request or make the action sound brief: 'a moment, a bit, once' (等一下, 看一下这本书, 问一下). In this postverbal pattern it is not placed before the verb, and it is not the usual way to ask 'how many times'; it can also be a measure complement meaning 'once' (敲了一下). A separate adverbial 一下(子) meaning 'suddenly/all at once' can precede verbs (他一下明白了), but that is different from the HSK softener pattern.
例句Example sentences
- 请你等一下，我马上就来。qǐng nǐ děng yí xià, wǒ mǎ shàng jiù lái.Please wait a moment, I'll be right there.
- 这个问题我想一下再回答你。zhè ge wèn tí wǒ xiǎng yí xià zài huí dá nǐ.Let me think about this question for a moment before I answer you.
- 老师，您能再说一下吗？lǎo shī, nín néng zài shuō yí xià ma?Teacher, could you say that again?
常见错误Common mistakes
-
✗我一下看这本书。
✓我看一下这本书。
For the 'briefly/a bit' meaning, 一下 follows the verb; the preverbal 一下(子) meaning 'suddenly/all at once' does not fit this sentence.
易混词Easily confused
一下vs一会儿
一会儿 is a length of time ('a little while') and can stand alone or follow 等/过; in the softener pattern, 一下 attaches to a verb to make the action sound short and casual, as in 等一下 versus 等一会儿.