请再说一遍
qǐng zài shuō yí biàn
Please say it again
How to say "please wait a moment" in Chinese
请等一下
qǐng děng yíxià
Please wait a moment
Character breakdown
Grammar and structure
The phrase is built from qǐng (please), děng (to wait), and yíxià (a little while). It is a polite imperative: "please wait a bit."
Variations and politeness
稍等一下
shāo děng yíxià
Wait a moment. — More colloquial.
等一下
děng yíxià
Wait a bit. — Shorter and less polite.
Mini dialogue
A
你能帮我吗？
Nǐ néng bāng wǒ ma?
Can you help me?
B
请等一下。
Qǐng děng yíxià.
Please wait a moment.
When to use it
Appropriate
- When you need someone to pause briefly while you attend to something else.
- When you want to be polite in a service or business setting.
- When you are on the phone and need to put the caller on hold for a short time.
Avoid when
- When speaking to close friends or family, where a simple 'děng yíxià' is more natural.
- When you need someone to wait for a long time; this phrase implies only a short pause.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say 'please wait a moment' in Chinese?
You can say 'qǐng děng yíxià' (请等一下). It is a polite way to ask someone to wait briefly.
How do you pronounce 'qǐng děng yíxià'?
It is pronounced 'cheeng dung ee-shyah' with the third tone on 'qǐng' and 'děng', and the second tone on 'yí'.
When do you use 'qǐng děng yíxià'?
Use it in polite or formal situations when you need someone to wait a short time, such as in a shop or on the phone.
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