可以寄存行李吗？
kěyǐ jìcún xíngli ma?
Can I leave my luggage?
How to say "wait please" in Chinese
请稍等。
qǐng shāo děng
Wait please
Character breakdown
Grammar and structure
The phrase is qǐng (please) + shāo (a little) + děng (to wait). It is a polite imperative: "please wait a little."
Variations and politeness
请等一下
qǐng děng yīxià
Please wait a moment. — More casual than 请稍等.
稍等一下
shāo děng yīxià
Wait a moment. — Less polite but shorter.
Mini dialogue
A
请稍等。
qǐng shāo děng
Please wait a moment.
B
好的，没问题。
hǎo de, méi wèntí
Okay, no problem.
When to use it
Appropriate
- When you need someone to wait briefly in a service setting, like a hotel or restaurant.
- When you want to be polite and formal, especially if you are staff addressing a customer.
- When you need a moment to check something or fetch something for the person.
Avoid when
- When speaking to close friends or family; it may sound overly formal.
- When you want to say 'wait for me' in a casual context; use 等我一下 instead.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say 'please wait' in Chinese?
You can say 'qǐng shāo děng' (请稍等). It is a polite way to ask someone to wait briefly.
How do you pronounce 请稍等?
It is pronounced 'qǐng shāo děng', with the third tone on qǐng, first tone on shāo, and third tone on děng.
When should I use 请稍等?
Use it in formal or service situations, such as in a hotel or restaurant, when you need someone to wait a moment. It is polite and appropriate for staff to use with customers.
More phrases for this situation
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