ちょっと待って
chotto matte
In Japanese, the phrase for "wait a second" is ちょっと待って (chotto matte).
This phrase is used to ask someone to stop or pause for a short time. While the word chotto literally translates to "a little" or "a bit", it is used idiomatically in this context to mean "a second" or "a moment" rather than a specific measurement of time.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of chotto (a little/a bit) and matte, which is the te-form of the verb meaning "to wait".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form ちょっと待って is informal and should be used with friends, family or people of lower social status. For a polite version suitable for use with strangers or superiors, you can add kudasai to the end to say ちょっと待ってください. If you need a very formal way to say "wait a second", use お待ちください.
How does it change in a sentence?
Depending on the punctuation and intonation used, the phrase can function as an exclamation or a command.
How do you pronounce it?
chotto matte
Did you know?
- The word ちょっと (chotto) is frequently used as a polite 'no' by omitting the rest of the sentence. Saying ちょっと… while tilting the head often communicates that a request is impossible without ever saying the word 'no'.
- In very formal settings, such as announcements in a train station, you might hear 少々お待ちください instead of using ちょっと.
- If you want to sound much more casual or even slightly impatient with friends, you can shorten the phrase to just ちょっと or even just ちょっ.
Examples in context
- ちょっと待って。Wait a second.This sentence shows the phrase used as a simple command.Tatoeba #1064324 by bunbuku, translation #1850245 by CK
- ちょっと待って。靴ひもほどけた。Wait a second. My shoe is untied.This sentence uses the phrase to pause because a shoe is untied.Tatoeba #3265947 by tommy_san, translation #3274456 by Aggriken
- ちょっと待って。ひとつだけ聞きたいの。Wait a second. There's just one thing I want to ask.This sentence uses the phrase to pause before asking a question.Tatoeba #11734162 by small_snow, translation #11760976 by end
- お待ちください、少々お時間をいただけますか？Excuse me, may I have a moment, please?
- お待ちください、すぐに案内いたします。Please wait a moment, I will guide you shortly.
- ちょっと待って、今すぐ行くよ！Wait a second, I'll go right now!
- ちょっと待って、ちょっと忘れ物を取ってくるね。Wait a sec, I'll grab something I forgot.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are walking to the station.
- 陽太 Yota陽葵、ちょっと待って！Himari, chotto matte!Himari, wait a second!
- 陽葵 Himariどうしたの、陽太？Doushita no, Yota?What's wrong, Yota?
- 陽太 Yota財布を忘れたみたいだ。Saifu o wasureta mitai da.It looks like I forgot my wallet.
- 陽葵 Himari本当に？家に戻る？Hontou ni? Ie ni modoru?Really? Are you going back home?
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
