待つ
matsu[ma̠t͡sɨ]
To wait in Japanese is 待つ (matsu).
The verb 待つ means to delay until some event. You can also use the related noun 待ち to express the concept of a delay. For specific social situations, the noun 待ち合わせ refers to the act of meeting someone at a prearranged time and place.
Meaning: delay until some event (verb)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The informal imperative is the te-form 待って (matte).
How do you pronounce it?
matsu
Did you know?
- Japanese has a specific term 待ちぼうけ (machibouke) for the experience of waiting for someone who never actually shows up.
- The phrase 待て (mate) is the standard command used in dog training to tell a pet to 'stay'.
- The noun form 待ち (machi) is frequently used in compound words to describe types of waiting, such as 待ち合わせ (appointment) or even 待ち伏せ (ambush/waiting in ambush).
Examples in context
- 待つしかない。I can only wait.This sentence shows how to express that waiting is the only option using 待つ.Tatoeba #4849 by bunbuku, translation #1432 by brauliobezerra
- 門の前で待つよ。I'll wait for you at the front gate.This sentence uses 待つ to describe waiting at a specific location.Tatoeba #8572349 by small_snow, translation #8572348 by CK
- 待つつもりなの？Are you going to wait?This sentence uses 待つ to ask about someone's intention to wait.Tatoeba #8785597 by bunbuku, translation #2547426 by CK
- Matte chotto, sugu modoru. (待ってちょっと、すぐ戻る。)Wait a second, I'll be right back.
- Chotto matte, ii? (ちょっと待って、いい？)Hey, can you wait a moment?
- 65 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki and Yota are waiting for a bus that is late.
- 美咲 Misakiバスが来ないね。Basu ga konai ne.The bus isn't coming, is it?
- 陽太 Yotaあと少しだけ待つよ。Ato sukoshi dake matsu yo.I'll wait just a little longer.
- 美咲 Misakiもういいと思うよ。Mō ii to omou yo.I think we've waited enough.
- 陽太 Yotaあ、バスが来た！A, basu ga kita!Oh, the bus is here!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wait” translations and entries 待つ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
