まてまて

• 読み: まてまて
• ローマ字: mate mate
• 発音: /ma.te ma.te/

意味

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.

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.

例文

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

使い方ガイド

場面: friends, social media, group conversation, reactions

トーン: urgent, surprised, demanding attention

正しい言い方

• 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!)
• 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?)

避ける言い方

• 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)

よくある間違い

• 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'

起源と歴史

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.

文化的背景

時代: Traditional expression, amplified by TV and internet culture

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal casual

地域メモ: 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.