conj.当 ... 的时候；虽然；尽管；然而

n.一段时间；一会儿

v.消磨

I lived in a hostel while I was a student. 我求学期间住在青年招待所里。

While Mary was writing a letter, the children were playing outside. 玛丽写信时，孩子们在外面玩耍。

In a word, while the prospects are bright, the road has twists and turns. 总之,虽然前途是光明的,但是道路是曲折的。

While I admit that there are problems, I don't agree that they cannot be solved. 尽管我承认有问题存在

I haven't seen him for a long while. 我已经很久没见到他了。

Before I eat dinner,I read newspaper for a while 在吃晚饭以前,我会读一会儿报纸

A detective story helps to while away the time. 侦探小说有助于打发时间。

I didn't know how to while away my tedium. 我不知道如何度过乏味的时刻。

while用作连词时,表示“在…(过程)中,在…期间”。常用来引导时间状语从句,当主句的主语和while所引导的从句的主语一致时, while从句中的主语、谓语往往可以省去。

while还可引导让步状语从句,意思是“虽然,尽管”,含有对比意味。

while表示对比关系时,意思是“而,然而”。

while还可用作及物动词,意思是“消磨时间”,常同副词away搭配。例如:When I'm free,I play the violin to while away the time.我一有空,就拉小提琴来消磨时间。