Chinese word

等待

Pronunciation

Pinyinděng dài

Meaning

  • verbwait

Example

请在这里等待一下。qǐng zài zhè lǐ děng dài yí xià

Please wait here for a moment.

Illustration for 等待 (wait)

More examples

大家都在等待消息，不要随便发言。dà jiā dōu zài děng dài xiāo xī bú yào suí biàn fā yán

Everyone is waiting for the news, so do not speak carelessly.

Core concept

Time passes while someone holds back action for an expected arrival or outcome.

Common phrases

  • 等待消息děng dài xiāo xī

    wait for news

  • 等待回复děng dài huí fù

    wait for a reply

  • 等待结果děng dài jié guǒ

    wait for the result

Similar words

等děng: To wait for someone or something to arrive in everyday speech.
等一下děng yí xià: To ask someone to wait for a very short time in casual speech.
等一会儿děng yí huìr: To wait for a little while before doing something else in casual speech.

Definition in Chinese

表示为将要发生的事情或到来的人而静候，包含一定的期待或耐心。biǎo shì wèi jiāng yào fā shēng de shì qíng huò dào lái de rén ér jìng hòu bāo hán yí dìng de qī dài huò nài xīn

Word origin

等待 (děngdài, "wait") pairs 等 (děng, "wait") with 待 (dài, "remain"), making the idea of patiently staying for what comes next especially clear.

Usage tips

  • For a brief pause in casual speech, Chinese commonly uses a shorter form than this verb, so a direct translation of wait can sound more formal than intended.

Opposites

Word lists with this word