Chinese learning

Daily learning flow

Usage note

是表示待的意思。可以用来告诉别人你还要,或者让别人稍一下。

děng shì bǎo shí děng dài de yì sī, kě yǐ lái gào su bā rén ná hái yào děng děng, huò zhě ràng bā rén shāo děng yī xià.

等 means waiting. You can use it to tell someone you still need to wait or ask them to wait a moment.

Context note

常用于日常生活中的待场景,比如人、排队候或者交通信号灯。

děng cháng yòng yú rì kāi shēn qíng zhōng de děng dài jiàng chéng, bǐ 如 人、pái duì děng hòu děi 或 者 jiāo tōng xìn xiāo dēng.

等 is commonly used in daily life situations where waiting occurs, such as waiting for someone, queuing up, or traffic lights.

5 examples

一下再给你打电话。
wǒ děng yí xià zài gěi nǐ dǎ diàn huà。
I will call you back in a moment.
请稍,我马上就好。
qǐng shāo děng, wǒ mǎ shàng jiù hǎo。
Please wait a moment, I'll be right back.
我们公交车。
wǒ men děng gōng jiāo chē。
We are waiting for the bus.
我一下。
nǐ děng wǒ yí xià。
Wait for me a moment.
绿灯亮了再过马路。
qǐng děng lǜ dēng liàng le zài guò mǎ lù。
Please wait until the green light is on before crossing the road.

5 mini stories

妈妈说爸爸下班了再做饭。
mā ma shuō děng bà ba xià bān le zài zuò fàn。
Mom said to wait until Dad gets home from work before cooking.
我们绿灯亮了再过马路。
wǒ men děng lǜ dēng liàng le zài guò mǎ lù。
We waited for the green light to cross the road.
老师说下课了再出去玩。
lǎo shī shuō děng xià kè le zài chū qù wán。
The teacher said to wait until after class before going out to play.
我们公交车来了再上车。
wǒ men děng gōng jiāo chē lái le zài shàng chē。
We waited for the bus to arrive before getting on.
妈妈说爸爸下班了再做饭。
mā ma shuō děng bà ba xià bān le zài zuò fàn。
Mom said to wait until Dad gets home from work before cooking.

Mini dialogue

等校车

A
你在这里做什么?
Nǐ zài zhèlǐ zuò shénme?
What are you doing here?
B
我在校车。
Wǒ zài děng xiàochē.
I am waiting for the school bus.

等朋友

A
我们开始吃饭吧。
Wǒmen kāishǐ chīfàn ba.
Let's start eating.
B
一下,我在我的朋友。
Děng yīxià, wǒ zài děng wǒ de péngyou.
Wait a moment, I am waiting for my friend.

Related words and contrasts

similar
等待
děng dài
to wait (for)

A more formal or patient way to say 'wait'.

similar
等候
děng hòu
to await

Often used in formal situations, like waiting for a bus or a person.

Explore more words