不一会儿 and 一会儿...一会儿... for “Soon After” and “Now … Now …”
Tell how fast something happened with 不一会儿, and describe quick back-and-forth changes with 一会儿……，一会儿……
Pattern
……，不一会儿（就）+ result + 了 / 一会儿 + A，一会儿 + B
不一会儿 says something happened very soon after; 一会儿 A，一会儿 B says two actions or states keep switching back and forth.
今天的天气一会儿晴，一会儿阴。
When to use 不一会儿 and 一会儿...一会儿... for “Soon After” and “Now … Now …”
不一会儿 means “soon after” or “before long.” Even though it contains 不, it is not negative: it says only a very short time passed before the next thing happened.
我们刚到车站，不一会儿，公共汽车就来了。
We had just reached the bus stop, and soon the bus came.
外面刚才还是晴天，不一会儿就下起了大雨。
It was sunny a moment ago, and before long it started pouring.
他太累了，不一会儿就睡着了。
He was so tired that he fell asleep in no time.
弟弟一会儿看电视，一会儿玩手机，作业还没写。
My little brother keeps going from TV to his phone, and he still hasn’t done his homework.
Common traps
- 不一会儿 is not negative; it means “soon after,” not “not for a moment.”
- Use 不一会儿 for what already happened; for the future say 一会儿, as in 我一会儿就去.
- In 一会儿……，一会儿……, use two different actions or states, not the same one twice.
Targeted drill
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