待つこと
matsu koto
The English word "waiting" can be translated into Japanese as 待つこと (matsu koto).
待つこと refers to the act of staying or remaining in expectation.
Meaning: the act of staying or remaining in expectation (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 待つこと is the standard noun for the act of waiting, other forms exist depending on your intent: 待ち続ける (machi-tsuzukeru) is used when you want to convey the idea of 'continuing to wait'.
How do you pronounce it?
matsu koto
Did you know?
- The verb 待つ (matsu) is a homophone for the word for 'pine tree' (松), which is why pine trees are often used as visual puns in art related to patience and longing.
- If you are waiting for someone at a station, you might say you are in a state of 待ちぼうけ (machiboke), which implies you waited in vain and they never showed up.
- In Japanese, the verb 待つ (matsu) is often used in the polite form お待ちしています (omachi shite imasu) to warmly invite someone to come and see you.
Examples in context
- Chotto matte! (ちょっと待って！)Wait a moment!
- Densha ga kuru made machi-tsuzukeru yo. (電車がくるまで待ち続けるよ。)I will continue to wait until the train arrives.
- Sumimasen, hitori de matte imasu ka? (すみません、一人で待っていますか？)Excuse me, are you waiting alone?
- Iie, tomodachi to matte imasu. (いいえ、友達と待っています。)No, I am waiting with a friend.
- 待つことは大切です。matsu koto wa taisetsu desu.Waiting is important.
- ここで待つことは退屈です。koko de matsu koto wa taikutsu desu.Waiting here is boring.
- 返事を待つことは難しいです。henji o matsu koto wa muzukashii desu.Waiting for a reply is difficult.
Example conversation
Yui and Yota are standing in a long line at a store.
- 結衣 Yui列が長すぎますね。Retsu ga nagasugimasu ne.The line is too long, isn't it?
- 陽太 Yota本当だね。待つことは疲れるよ。Hontou da ne. Matsu koto wa tsukareru yo.It really is. Waiting is tiring.
- 結衣 Yui陽太さんは飽きっぽいですか？Yota-san wa akippoi desu ka?Are you impatient, Yota?
- 陽太 Yotaうん、あまり得意じゃないんだ。Un, amari tokui janain da.Yeah, I'm not very good at it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “waiting” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
