기다리다
gidarida[kida̠ɾida̠]
To say wait in Korean, use 기다리다 (gidarida), the everyday verb for waiting for a person, an object or an event. 대기하다 is used for formal or technical waiting. If unsure, use 기다리다.
Meaning: delay until some event (verb)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 기다리다 | gidarida | [kida̠ɾida̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 대기하다 | daegihada | [ˈtɛ(ː)ɡiɦa̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [ˈte̞(ː)ɡiɦa̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
기다리다 covers waiting for someone, waiting for something or waiting for an event to happen. In daily conversation, the most common way to say wait a moment is 잠시만요. The noun 기다림 means a wait or a delay.
Which one should you use?
기다리다 is the common, general verb. 대기하다 is used in formal or technical contexts, such as being on standby, waiting in a queue or a system being in a waiting state.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The conjugated form 기다려 is a casual command. Adding 주세요 after it makes the request polite.
How do you pronounce it?
기다리다 is romanized as gidarida.
When do people say it?
A common gesture for asking someone to wait is raising your hand with the palm facing outward and the fingers slightly bent.
Did you know?
- While 잠시만요 is used to ask someone to wait, it is also the standard phrase used to politely push past people in a crowded subway or bus.
- The word 대기하다 is composed of the Hanja characters for 'wait' and 'machine', literally meaning 'to wait for the machine' or 'to be on standby'.
- The word 기다림 turns the action of waiting into a poetic noun, often used in Korean song lyrics to describe the emotional ache of longing for a lover.
Examples in context
- 기다려 주시겠습니까?Could you please wait?기다려 주시겠습니까? is a very polite, formal way to ask someone to wait.
- 역에서 친구를 기다리다.yeog-eseo chin-gu-reul gi-da-ri-da.To wait for a friend at the station.
- 비가 그칠 때까지 기다리다.bi-ga geu-chil ttae-kka-ji gi-da-ri-da.To wait until the rain stops.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wait” translations and entries 기다리다, 대기하다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 기다리다, 대기하다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
