しばらく

し

ば

ら

く

Common wordJLPTN4Freq.FrequencyTop 2,000

しばらくする · noun or participle which takes 'suru'

Meanings

for a moment; for a short while

usually written using kana alone

Indicates a brief duration, often used when asking someone to wait or when describing a short pause.

usually written using kana alone

Refers to a somewhat longer, indefinite period. Often used when describing a state or action that continues for a while.

usually written using kana alone

Used when a temporary measure or state is expected to last for an unspecified period, often implying that things may change later.

long time no see; it's been a while

usually written using kana alone

Interjection used when meeting someone after a long absence. Often used alone or in the phrase しばらくですね.

しばらく〈動どう詞し〉to do something for a short while (e.g. wait)
しばらくお待まちください。
Please wait a moment.
しばらく〈場ば所しょ〉にいるto stay in a place for a while
しばらく東とう京きょうにいます。
I'll be in Tokyo for a while.
しばらく〈事こと〉が続つづくa situation continues for the time being
しばらくこの状じょう態たいが続つづくでしょう。
This condition will probably continue for a while.
〈人ひと〉、しばらくですねgreeting someone you haven't seen in a while
田た中なかさん、しばらくですね。
Tanaka, it's been a while!

少すこしN5sense 1
少し means 'a little' referring to quantity or degree, while しばらく refers to a span of time, however short.
当とう分ぶんN2sense 3
当分 also means 'for the time being' but suggests a longer, more indefinite period and is more formal than しばらく.
ちょっとN5sense 1
ちょっと is a casual way to say 'a moment' or 'a little', while しばらく is slightly more formal and can also mean a longer stretch of time.
しばしN1
しばらく is the everyday word for 'a while', whereas しばし is a more literary and formal equivalent used mainly in writing or polite speech.

Show 6 more

数すう分ふん
数分 specifies a short span of about two to ten minutes, while しばらく is vaguer and can mean anywhere from a few minutes to a much longer stretch of time.
数すう時じ間かん
数時間 specifies a duration of roughly several hours, while しばらく is vaguer and can mean anywhere from a few minutes to a long stretch of time.
ひとときN1
しばらく simply means 'for a while' and focuses on duration, whereas ひととき often adds a poetic or nostalgic nuance to a short period.
久ひさしぶりN5
しばらく means 'for a while' or 'a short time', whereas 久しぶり emphasizes a long interval since the last occurrence.
一いち時じN4
しばらく is the everyday, casual word for 'for a while,' while 一時 is a bit more formal and can also mean 'once' or 'one o'clock.'
長ながい間あいだ
しばらく usually implies a shorter, indefinite span of time ('for a while'), whereas 長い間 emphasizes that the duration was notably long.

しばしばN3
しばらく means 'for a while' (duration), whereas しばしば means 'often' (frequency); learners sometimes mix up the similar sounds.

しばらくUsage93%
Standard kana spelling. This is the normal written form.
暫しばらくUsage6%
Kanji form; rarely used in modern writing. The word is almost always written in kana.
暫しばらくUsage<1%
irregular okurigana
Irregular okurigana variant; very rare.
シバラクUsage<1%
姑しばらくUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
須臾しばらく
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; literary or archaic feel.

The exact derivation is uncertain. The kanji 暫 is associated with the meaning 'for a while', and the word is conventionally written in kana.