What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of the verb 等 (děng), meaning 'to wait' and the pronoun 我 (wǒ), meaning 'me'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The bare form 等我 is used in casual settings with friends or peers. To make the request sound more formal or polite, especially when speaking to strangers, you can add 请 at the beginning to say 请等我 (please wait for me). In very informal settings among friends and family, you might say 等我啊.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Southern regions, it is common to add 嘛 at the end of a sentence to make it sound more gentle and persuasive, such as in 等等我一下嘛.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can add 一下 (yí xià) after 等我 to say 等我一下, which means "wait for me a moment". This softens the command and implies the wait will be for a short duration. Additionally, adding 哈 as a final particle in 等我一下哈 creates an informal and conversational tone that softens the utterance.
How do you pronounce it?
děng wǒ
Did you know?
- The character 等 (děng) also means 'grade' or 'class' when referring to quality, such as 'first-class' or 'second-class' products.
- In Chinese, the word 等 is used to mean 'and so on' or 'etcetera' at the end of a list of items.
- If you are in a hurry and want someone to wait, adding the particle 嘛 (ma) at the end of 等我嘛 can actually make you sound like you are pouting or acting 'cute' to get your way, rather than just being polite.
Examples in context
- 我想让你等我。I want you to wait for me.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire for someone to wait.Tatoeba #5842653 by verdastelo9604, translation #2012486 by CK
- 等我一到就寫信給你。Wait for me until I write you.This sentence is useful for expressing a conditional waiting scenario.Tatoeba #2715534 by cienias, translation #2761835 by Trailsend
- 请在建筑的入口处等我。Please wait for me at the entrance of the building.This sentence is useful for specifying a location for waiting.Tatoeba #1426560 by sadhen, translation #48320 by CK
- 在商店里等我一下。Wait for me in the store.
- 请等我一会儿，我很快就回来。Please wait for me a moment, I will be back very soon.
- 等我啊，我们一起去吃饭。Wait for me, let's go eat together.
- 谢谢等我一下哈，我找到路了。Thanks for waiting for me, I found the way.
- 等等我一下嘛，我只需要一分钟。Just wait for me a moment, I only need one minute.
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Jiayi is walking behind Zhiqiang in a park.
- 佳怡 Jiayi志强，等我！Zhìqiáng, děng wǒ!Zhiqiang, wait for me!
- 志强 Zhiqiang好的，我慢一点。Hǎo de, wǒ màn yī diǎn.Okay, I'll slow down a bit.
- 佳怡 Jiayi你走得太快了。Nǐ zǒu dé tài kuài le.You are walking too fast.
- 志强 Zhiqiang没问题，我在前面等你。Méi wèntí, wǒ zài qiánmiàn děng nǐ.No problem, I'll wait for you up ahead.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
