请给我…
qǐng gěi wǒ…
Please give me…
How to say "wait for me" in Chinese
等我一下
děng wǒ yíxià
Wait for me
Character breakdown
Grammar and structure
等 (děng) means "to wait," 我 (wǒ) is "me," and 一下 (yíxià) softens the request to "a moment." So it's "wait for me a bit."
Variations and politeness
等一下
děng yīxià
Wait a moment. — More casual and shorter; drops the object 'me'.
请等我一下
qǐng děng wǒ yīxià
Please wait for me. — More polite due to adding 'please' (请).
Mini dialogue
A
等我一下！
děng wǒ yíxià!
Wait for me!
B
好的，我等你。
hǎo de, wǒ děng nǐ.
OK, I'll wait for you.
When to use it
Appropriate
- When you need someone to pause briefly for you, like tying your shoe or grabbing your bag.
- In casual conversations with friends, family, or close colleagues.
- When you want to sound friendly and not demanding.
Avoid when
- In formal situations or with superiors; use a more polite form like 请等我一下.
- When you need someone to wait for a long time; 一下 implies a short moment.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say 'wait for me' in Chinese?
You can say 等我一下 (děng wǒ yíxià). It literally means 'wait for me a moment' and is used in casual situations.
How do you pronounce 等我一下?
It is pronounced děng wǒ yíxià. Note the tone change: 一 (yī) becomes yí before the fourth tone of 下 (xià).
When should I use 等我一下 instead of 等一下?
Use 等我一下 when you specifically want the person to wait for you. 等一下 is more general and can mean 'wait a moment' without specifying who.
More phrases for this situation
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