Japanese kanji 待: wait

The idea

Common Chinese-derived readings include タイ. Japanese-origin readings include まつ. Compare 待つ (まつ) with 期待 (きたい). 待 has 9 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram.

Examples

• ここで少すこし待まってください。Please wait here a moment.
• 駅えきの東口ひがしぐちで待まちます。I will wait at the station’s east exit.
• 母ははが来くるまで待まちます。I will wait until my mother comes.
• 私わたしは外そとで待まっています。I am waiting outside.
• 待まち合あわせの場所ばしょを教おしえてください。Please tell me where we are meeting.
• 新あたらしい映画えいがに期待きたいしています。I have high expectations for the new film.

Watch out

With 待つ, を marks the person or thing awaited; 期待する often uses に for what one expects something of. Compare 待 with 持: look for 彳 in 待.

Try it yourself

1. Write the reading of 待つ in hiragana.

   Show answer or example answer

   まつ

   待つ is read まつ; the whole word means to wait.

2. Write the reading of 期待 in hiragana.

   Show answer or example answer

   きたい

   期待 is read きたい; the whole word means expectation.

3. Fill in the missing kanji: ＿ち合わせ（まちあわせ）.

   Show answer or example answer

   待

   待 completes 待ち合わせ, read まちあわせ; the whole word means arranged meeting.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 待 from memory, and read 待つ and 期待 aloud. Make a sentence, then check the readings and meanings.