阵
zhèn
disposition of troops
wave; spate; burst; spell; short period of time; classifier for events or states of short duration
hill fort (阝) + war chariot (车) = battle formation
Ancient armies lined their chariots along hillsides or earthworks to form a defensive line. From that locked, organized arrangement comes the broader sense of a wave or burst — one formation of events sweeping through, then the next.
外面下了一阵雨，地都湿了。
wài miàn xià le yī zhèn yǔ, dì dōu shī le。
It rained for a spell outside, and the ground is all wet.
他说完话后，屋里静了一阵才有人开口。
tā shuō wán huà hòu, wū lǐ jìng le yī zhèn cái yǒu rén kāi kǒu。
After he finished speaking, the room was quiet for a short while before anyone spoke up.
Words with 阵
这一阵子
zhè yī zhèn zi
recently
这阵儿
zhè zhèn r
now
这阵子
zhè zhèn zi
now
达阵
dá zhèn
touchdown
那阵
nà zhèn
at that time
那阵子
nà zhèn zi
at that time
长蛇阵
cháng shé zhèn
single-line formation (army)
阵亡
zhèn wáng
to die in battle
阵亡战士纪念日
zhèn wáng zhàn shì jì niàn rì
Memorial Day (American holiday)
阵亡者
zhèn wáng zhě
people killed in battle
阵列
zhèn liè
(computing) array (data structure)
阵势
zhèn shì
battle array