Japanese word

待つ

Pronunciation

Romajimatsu

Meaning

  • verbwait

Example

友達を待ちます。tomo dachi o ma chi ma su

I wait for my friend.

Illustration for 待つ (wait)

More examples

バスを待ちます。ba su o ma chi ma su

I wait for the bus.

雨がやむまで、ここで待ちます。ame ga ya mu ma de ko ko de ma chi ma su

I will wait here until the rain stops.

Core concept

Centers on staying in place while time passes until a person, event, or expected moment arrives.

Common phrases

  • 順番を待つjun ban o ma tsu

    wait one's turn

  • 電車を待つden sha o ma tsu

    wait for the train

  • 返事を待つhen ji o ma tsu

    wait for a reply

  • しばらく待つshi ba ra ku ma tsu

    wait for a while

  • 外で待つsoto de ma tsu

    wait outside

Similar words

待機するtaikisuru: To remain in a place or state of readiness until needed.
待ち受けるmachiukeru: To remain ready for the arrival of a person or event.
待ち望むmachinozomu: To look forward to something and await it with strong desire.

Definition in Japanese

人や物事が来たり起こったりするまで、その場にとどまって時間を過ごすこと。hito ya mono goto ga ki ta ri o ko tta ri su ru ma de so no ba ni to do ma tte ji kan o su go su ko to

Word origin

待つ (matsu, "wait") is a native Japanese verb whose stem 待ち (machi, "waiting") appears in 待ち合わせ (machiawase, "meeting up after waiting for each other").

Usage tips

  • In the common pattern 友達を待つ (tomodachi o matsu), Japanese uses を (o) where English uses the preposition for after wait.

Related words

Word lists with this word