🇨🇳 How to say

“wait” in Chinese

等děng
Illustration of "wait" in a Chinese cultural setting
A person stands at a bus stop on a sunny afternoon, glancing at their watch and looking down the empty street. They shift their weight from one foot to the other, showing a mix of patience and mild impatience.

Usage note

等 is used for waiting for people, objects, or events. It's neutral in tone and very common in daily conversation. You can also say 等等 to mean 'wait a bit' in a casual way.

Examples

  • 请等一下。

    Please wait a moment.

  • 我等你。

    I will wait for you.

  • 我们等公交车。

    We are waiting for the bus.

Quick check

What does "等" mean?

  • A. wait
  • B. meet
  • C. give
  • D. sit

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