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(děng dài) - to wait, to await in Mandarin

děngdài

Traditional: 等待

Line drawing of 等待
Coloured illustration of 等待
HSK 4
#714 of 5,000 Core 1000

Translation

to wait, to await

Word origin

The word 等待 combines 等 'to wait' with 待 'to wait, to await'. 等 has the 竹 (bamboo) radical over 寺; 待 has the 彳 (step) radical with 寺 as phonetic. The pairing emphasises waiting and awaiting.

Origin
compound
Root
等 (děng, to wait: 竹 bamboo + 寺) + 待 (dài, to await: 彳 step + 寺 phonetic)

Stroke order

Stroke order for 等

Stroke order for 待

Examples

I'm awaiting your reply.

nài

Please wait patiently.

He waited for a long time.

I am waiting for your reply.

He is waiting for a friend at the station.

Where this fits

Used in

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Mandarin · Free printables

等待: worksheet, infographic and listicle

Free printable study downloads for the Mandarin word "等待" (to wait, to await): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.

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This word is part of lesson 15.