一时半霎 a short while
Explanation
指极短的时间，转瞬之间。
Refers to a very short period of time, a moment.
Origin Story
从前，有个名叫小明的孩子，他非常贪玩。有一天，他答应母亲要完成家务，可是一时半霎的功夫，他又跑到院子里玩耍去了。母亲看到他玩得不亦乐乎，一时也没有责备他，直到晚饭时间，母亲才叫他进来吃饭。小明这才想起自己忘记完成家务了，赶紧跑回屋里。但是，这时已经晚了，母亲已经生气了。小明后悔莫及，他知道自己一时半霎的玩乐，给他带来了很大的麻烦。从此以后，小明再也不敢一时半霎就忘记自己的承诺了。
Once upon a time, there was a child named Xiaoming who was very playful. One day, he promised his mother that he would finish his chores, but in a short time, he ran to the yard to play again. His mother saw that he was having a great time and didn't scold him at that time, until dinner time, when his mother called him in to eat.Xiaoming remembered that he had forgotten to do his chores, so he quickly ran back to the house. But it was too late, his mother was angry. Xiaoming regretted very much that he was distracted by playing in a short time and it brought him great trouble. From that day on, Xiaoming never dared to forget his promises in a short time again.
Usage
用作宾语；指很短的时间。
Used as an object; refers to a very short period of time.
Examples
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他做事总是毛手毛脚的，一时半霎就出错。
ta zuò shì zǒng shì máo shǒu máo jiǎo de, yī shí bàn shà jiù cuò cū. zhè jiàn xiǎo shì, yī shí bàn shà jiù néng wán chéng.
He always acts clumsily and makes mistakes in a short time.
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这件小事，一时半霎就能完成。
tā zuò shì zǒng shì máo shǒu máo jiǎo de, yī shí bàn shà jiù cuò cū. zhè jiàn xiǎo shì, yī shí bàn shà jiù néng wán chéng。
This trivial matter can be done in a short time。