しばらく

adverb

for a while; for some time

1. for a while; for some time

Indicates a period of time, usually moderate in length.

しばらくお待(ま)ちください。

Please wait for a moment.

Polite request

しばらくの間(あいだ)、日本(にほん)にいます。

I'll be in Japan for a while.

しばらく考(かんが)えさせてください。

Please let me think about it for a while.

しばらく休(やす)んでから続(つづ)けよう。

Let's take a break for a while and then continue.

しばらく連絡(れんらく)がなかった。

I haven't heard from them for a while.

しばらく様子(ようす)を見(み)よう。

Let's wait and see for a while.

2. it has been a while

Used when seeing someone after a period of absence.

しばらく会(あ)っていませんでしたね。

We haven't seen each other for a while, have we?

しばらくぶりですね。

It's been a while, hasn't it?

Common greeting after absence

しばらくですね、元気(げんき)でしたか？

It's been a while! Have you been well?

しばらく見(み)ないうちに大(おお)きくなったね。

You've grown so much since I last saw you!

しばらくぶりに故郷(こきょう)に帰(かえ)ったら、駅前(えきまえ)がすっかり変(か)わっていた。

When I returned to my hometown after a long time, the area in front of the station had completely changed.

しばらく indicates an unspecified duration—from minutes to months depending on context.

TWO MAIN USES:
1. Duration: "for a while"
2. Elapsed time: "it's been a while"

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

しばらくお待(ま)ちください: Please wait a moment (polite)
しばらくぶり/しばらくですね: It's been a while (greeting)
しばらくの間(あいだ): for some time
しばらく見(み)ない間(あいだ)に: while I wasn't looking

CONTRAST:

ちょっと/少(すこ)し: a short while (more specific)
しばらく: a while (vague, flexible)
長(なが)い間(あいだ): a long time (more specific)

NOTE:
The actual duration しばらく represents varies greatly by context. In "しばらくお待(ま)ちください," it might mean seconds; in "しばらく日本(にほん)にいます," it could mean months.

core

Added 2026.1.8 12:50 · Revised 2026.6.8 11:21

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