Nuance & Usage
待つ means "to wait" and is extremely common in daily life. Key expressions: 待ってください (please wait), ちょっと待って (wait a moment — casual), お待ちください (please wait — formal/polite). The person or thing you wait for takes を: バスを待つ (wait for the bus). The phrase 楽しみに待っています (tanoshimi ni matte imasu — I'm looking forward to it) is a polite closing in emails and letters.
Common Mistakes
The て-form of 待つ is 待って (matte), following the つ→って pattern. A common mistake is the particle: 友達を待つ (wait for a friend — を marks who you wait for). Some learners use に or が here incorrectly. Also, ちょっと待って is casual; in polite/business settings, use 少々お待ちください (shoushou omachi kudasai — please wait a moment).
Example Sentences (3)
ここで待っていてください。
ここでまっていてください。
Please wait here.
三十分も待ちましたよ。
さんじゅっぷんもまちましたよ。
I waited for a whole thirty minutes!
お返事を楽しみに待っています。
おへんじをたのしみにまっています。
I look forward to your reply.
Quick Quiz
Quick Quiz
N54 questionsTest your knowledge of 待つ with 4 different question types.
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