ちょっと待って
chotto matte
To say "hold on" in Japanese, you use ちょっと待って (chotto matte).
Meaning: wait a minute (verb)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form ちょっと待って is informal and is used with friends or people of lower status. For more formal situations, you can use 少々お待ちください, お待ちください, お手数ですが、少々お待ちいただけますか。 or お待ちいただけませんか。
How does it change in a sentence?
You can modify the phrase to change the tone or level of politeness. Adding the particle よ (yo) to the end of ちょっと待ってよ adds emphasis or a sense of protest or exclamation. Other informal variations include ちょっと待ってて and ちょっと待ってくれ.
How do you pronounce it?
chotto matte
Did you know?
- The phrase お手数ですが (o-tesuu desu ga), often used with 'hold on' in formal settings, literally translates to 'it is a trouble/hand's work', acknowledging the inconvenience caused to the listener.
- In anime and manga, characters often use 待て! (mate), the command form of the verb, to create a dramatic effect similar to 'Halt!' or 'Stop right there!'
- The word ちょっと literally means 'a little' or 'a bit', but in Japanese social harmony, it is frequently used as a 'softener' to avoid sounding too direct or demanding.
Examples in context
- ちょっと待ってよ。Now just hold on a minute.This sentence is useful for expressing a sense of protest or exclamation.Tatoeba #202734 by small_snow, translation #39969 by CM
- ちょっと待って下さい。Hold on a moment, please.This sentence is a polite way to ask someone to hold on a moment.Tatoeba #202733 by bunbuku, translation #40045 by CK
- ちょっと待ってくれる？Would you hold on a minute?This sentence shows how to turn the phrase into a casual request for a favor.Tatoeba #4803120 by tommy_san, translation #4014393 by CK
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are leaving the house but one forgot something.
- 結衣 Yuiもう行くよ！Mō iku yo!I'm leaving now!
- 健太 Kentaあ、ちょっと待って！財布を忘れた。A, chotto matte! Saifu o wasureta.Oh, hold on! I forgot my wallet.
- 結衣 Yuiまた？急いでね。Mata? Isoide ne.Again? Hurry up.
- 健太 Kentaすぐに戻るから大丈夫。Sugu ni modoru kara daijōbu.I'll be right back, so it's okay.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
