しばらく

しばらく is an adverb meaning "for a while", "for a moment", or "for the time being". It indicates an unspecified but moderate duration of time – longer than a brief instant, but not indefinitely long. The exact length depends on context and can range from a few moments to several weeks or months.

Describing a duration of time

The most common use of しばらく is to describe doing something (or something continuing) for a while.

Indicating a gap or absence

しばらく is used to express that something hasn't happened for some time, or that there has been a gap since the last occurrence. This is especially common when reuniting with someone you haven't seen in a while.

おひさしぶり久しぶりです is the more standard greeting for "long time no see," but しばらくですね is also used in casual conversation.

"For the time being" / "for now"

しばらく can also mean "for the time being" or "for now", suggesting a temporary state that may change later.

When used with the particle は as しばらくは, the "for the time being" nuance is emphasized, implying that the situation is temporary and may change eventually.