How do you use "まてまて" in a sentence?

まてまて、今さらっとすごいこと言わなかった？まてまて、それ本気で言ってるの？冗談だよね？えっ、まてまて、来月結婚するってどういうこと！？

まてまて

Q: How do you use "まてまて" in a sentence?

まてまて、今さらっとすごいこと言わなかった？ まてまて、それ本気で言ってるの？冗談だよね？ えっ、まてまて、来月結婚するってどういうこと！？

Vocabulary Word Japanese ★★★★☆ Common Casual

Practica con tarjetas, cuestionarios y audio en WordLoci →

Significado: Wait wait — an urgent interjection telling someone to hold on because what they just said or did is too surprising, absurd, or important to let slide.

等等等等——紧急叫停的感叹词，因为对方刚说的话或做的事太让人震惊、太离谱或太重要，不能就这么放过。

Espera, espera — una interjección urgente para decirle a alguien que pare porque lo que acaba de decir o hacer es demasiado sorprendente, absurdo o importante como para dejarlo pasar.

잠깐잠깐 — 상대가 방금 말하거나 한 것이 너무 놀랍거나 황당하거나 중요해서 그냥 넘길 수 없을 때 쓰는 급한 감탄사.

まてまて is the repeated imperative form of 待つ (to wait), doubled for emphasis. It functions as a verbal brake pedal — deployed when someone casually drops bombshell information, says something outrageous, or moves on too quickly from something that demands further discussion. The repetition conveys urgency and disbelief simultaneously. In text, it often appears before a follow-up question or ツッコミ (retort), functioning as the straight man's opening move.

まてまて是待つ（等待）命令形的重复，加倍以示强调。它就像一个口头刹车——当某人若无其事地抛出爆炸性信息、说了离谱的话、或者太快跳过了值得深究的内容时使用。重复传达了紧迫感和难以置信的双重含义。在文字中，它常出现在追问或吐槽之前，充当吐槽角色的开场白。

まてまて es la forma imperativa de 待つ (esperar), repetida para dar énfasis. Funciona como un freno de mano verbal: se usa cuando alguien suelta una información bomba como si nada, dice algo disparatado o pasa demasiado rápido por algo que exige más discusión. La repetición transmite urgencia e incredulidad al mismo tiempo. En texto, suele aparecer antes de una pregunta de seguimiento o un ツッコミ (réplica), funcionando como la apertura del contrapunto serio.

まてまて는 待つ(기다리다)의 명령형을 두 번 반복한 것으로, 강조를 위해 겹쳐 쓴다. 누군가 폭탄 발언을 아무렇지 않게 던지거나, 황당한 말을 하거나, 더 논의가 필요한 것을 빠르게 넘어가려 할 때 쓰는 언어적 브레이크 역할을 한다. 반복은 긴박함과 불신을 동시에 전달한다. 문자에서는 후속 질문이나 츳코미(지적) 앞에 나타나며, 진지한 역할의 오프닝 멘트로 기능한다.

Ejemplos

まてまて、今さらっとすごいこと言わなかった？
等等等等，你刚才是不是很随意地说了一件大事？
Espera, espera, ¿no acabas de soltar algo increíble como si nada?
잠깐잠깐, 방금 슬쩍 엄청난 말 하지 않았어?
まてまて、それ本気で言ってるの？冗談だよね？
等等等等，你是认真的吗？开玩笑的吧？
Espera, espera, ¿lo dices en serio? Es broma, ¿no?
잠깐잠깐, 그거 진심으로 하는 말이야? 농담이지?
えっ、まてまて、来月結婚するってどういうこと！？
诶，等等等等，下个月结婚是什么意思！？
Eh, espera, espera, ¿cómo que te casas el mes que viene?!
엥, 잠깐잠깐, 다음 달에 결혼한다니 무슨 소리야!?

Pronunciación

/ma.te ma.te/

Guía de uso

Contexto: friends, social media, group conversation, reactions

Tono: urgent, surprised, demanding attention

✓ Correcto

まてまて、彼氏できたって今言った？詳しく聞かせて！ (Wait wait, did you just say you got a boyfriend? Tell me everything!)
等等等等，你刚说交男朋友了？给我详细说说！（Wait wait, did you just say you got a boyfriend? Tell me everything!）
Espera, espera, ¿acabas de decir que tienes novio? ¡Cuéntame todo!
잠깐잠깐, 남자친구 생겼다고 방금 말한 거야? 자세히 얘기해 줘! (잠깐잠깐, 남자친구 생겼다고? 다 얘기해!)
まてまて、その計画ちょっとおかしくない？ (Hold on hold on, isn't that plan a bit off?)
等等等等，那个计划是不是有点不对劲？（Hold on hold on, isn't that plan a bit off?）
Para, para, ¿ese plan no es un poco raro?
잠깐잠깐, 그 계획 좀 이상하지 않아? (잠깐, 그 계획 좀 이상하지 않아?)

✗ Incorrecto

目上の人には「ちょっと待ってください」を使う（「まてまて」は失礼） (Use 'chotto matte kudasai' with superiors — 'mate mate' is too blunt and rude)
对长辈应该用'请稍等'（'まてまて'太失礼了）
Con personas de mayor rango hay que usar «chotto matte kudasai» — «mate mate» es demasiado brusco y descortés.
윗사람에게는 '잠시만요'를 쓴다 ('잠깐잠깐'은 너무 직설적이고 무례하다)

Errores comunes

Using まてまて with strangers or in formal settings — it is a casual imperative and can sound aggressive to those not close to you
Confusing it with a literal request to physically wait — it is almost always a conversational interjection meaning 'hold that thought'

Origen e historia

Repeated imperative form of 待つ (matsu, to wait). A natural Japanese expression that has been used conversationally for generations, but its use as a dramatic interjection intensified through variety TV shows and internet culture where reactions are performatively exaggerated.

Contexto cultural

Era: Traditional expression, amplified by TV and internet culture

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal casual

Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Commonly heard on variety shows when a panellist says something shocking. Written as まてまて or 待て待て.

Más de este tema

wwww ★★★★★ Hahaha — multiple w's representing extended laughing in t... なんでやねん ★★★★★ Why the heck — a tsukkomi (straight man) retort originall... 意味わからん ★★★★★ Makes no sense — a blunt expression of confusion or disbe... 死んだ ★★★★★ I'm dead — used figuratively to express being overwhelmed... 終わった ★★★★★ It's over — used to express that a situation is hopeless,... ガチで ★★★★★ For real or seriously — an emphatic intensifier meaning s...