我们明天见。
wǒmen míngtiān jiàn
Let's meet tomorrow
How to say "wait a little" in Chinese
稍等一下。
shāo děng yíxià
Wait a little
Character breakdown
Grammar and structure
This is a casual expression: 稍 (shāo) means 'a little', 等 (děng) means 'wait', and 一下 (yíxià) is a measure word meaning 'a bit'. So it literally means 'wait a little bit'.
Variations and politeness
稍等
shāo děng
Wait a moment. — Shorter and slightly less polite.
请稍等一下
qǐng shāo děng yíxià
Please wait a moment. — More polite because it adds 'please'.
Mini dialogue
A
你能帮我一下吗？
nǐ néng bāng wǒ yīxià ma?
Can you help me?
B
稍等一下。
shāo děng yíxià.
Wait a little.
When to use it
Appropriate
- When chatting informally with friends or peers.
- When you need a moment to respond or do something.
- When the situation is casual and friendly.
Avoid when
- In formal situations with superiors or strangers; use '请稍等' instead.
- When you need to be very polite or respectful.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say 'wait a moment' in Chinese?
You can say '稍等一下' (shāo děng yíxià) in informal contexts.
How do you pronounce '稍等一下'?
It is pronounced 'shāo děng yíxià', with the third tone on 'děng' and the second tone on 'yí'.
When should I use '稍等一下' instead of '请稍等'?
Use '稍等一下' in casual settings like chats with friends. Use '请稍等' in formal situations to be more polite.
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