等待

• Pinyin: děng dài
• Hanzi breakdown: 等 (wait/equal) + 待 (wait/treat)

Meaning

To wait; to await. A slightly more formal or literary way of saying 等.

More formal and literary than the simple 等 (děng). Often used in written language, news reports, and more serious contexts. Conveys patience or anticipation.

Examples

1. 请在这里等待，我马上回来。 Please wait here; I will be right back.
2. 大家都在等待比赛结果的公布。 Everyone is waiting for the competition results to be announced.
3. 他等待了三个小时才见到医生。 He waited three hours before seeing the doctor.

Usage Guide

Context: formal, written, everyday

Tone: patient

Do Say

• 我们耐心等待结果。(We patiently await the results.)
• 她在机场等待朋友的到来。(She waited at the airport for her friend's arrival.)

Don't Say

• 等待一下 (This sounds overly formal for casual situations — use 等一下 in everyday speech)

Origin & History

Compound of 等 (wait, equal) and 待 (wait, treat), both carrying the meaning of waiting, creating a more emphatic expression.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal