What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of chotto (a little/a bit), matte (the te-form of the verb to wait) and kudasai (please).
Which one should you use?
While ちょっと待ってください is a standard way to ask someone to wait, you may encounter other versions. 少し待って (Sukoshi matte) means to wait a bit, and ちょっと待って (Chotto matte) is a shorter version. For a very colloquial way to say hold on a moment, you can use ちょい待ち (Choi-machi). For the most professional settings, 少々お待ちください (Shōshō omachi kudasai) is used.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The level of politeness changes significantly depending on the words used. ちょっと待って (Chotto matte) is informal and is used with friends or people of lower social status. 少々お待ちください (Shōshō omachi kudasai) is a highly polite version used by staff in shops or restaurants toward customers. You can also use Sumimasen, chotto o-machi kudasai to say excuse me, please wait a moment.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Kansai region dialects, you might hear ちょっと待てや (Chotto mate ya).
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase ちょっと待って, the word matte is the conjunctive (te-form) of the verb matsu (to wait), which is used here to issue a request.
How do you pronounce it?
chotto matte kudasai
Did you know?
- The word ちょっと (chotto) is frequently used as a polite 'no' by simply saying it and trailing off, implying 'this is a bit… difficult'.
- While ちょっと待って (chotto matte) means 'wait a moment', saying it repeatedly in a fast sequence can express disbelief or shock, similar to saying 'Wait, what?' in English.
- If you use the short ちょっと待って (chotto matte) with a superior, it can sound like you are barking an order rather than making a request, regardless of the 'please' implied in the te-form.
Examples in context
- ちょっと待ってください。chotto matte kudasai.One moment, please.
- すみません、ちょっと待ってください。sumimasen, chotto matte kudasai.Excuse me, please wait a moment.
- あ、ちょっと待ってください！a, chotto matte kudasai!Ah, wait a moment!
Example conversation
Hime and Yota are leaving the house together.
- 陽葵 Himari陽太、行きましょう！Yota, ikimashou!Yota, let's go!
- 陽太 Yotaちょっと待ってください。鍵がないです。Chotto matte kudasai. Kagi ga nai desu.One moment, please. I don't have my keys.
- 陽葵 Himariどこにあると思う？Doko ni aru to omou?Where do you think they are?
- 陽太 Yotaあ、テーブルの上にありました。A, teiburu no ue ni arimashita.Oh, they were on the table.
