Chinese verb · action · first needed at elementary level (A2)
等
děng
to wait
The person or thing you wait for comes straight after , with no word for “for”: (děng wǒ, wait for me), (děng gōnggòng qìchē, wait for the bus). (děng yíxià) means “wait a moment”.
Speed:
Basic
基本
Waiting in general, or who you are waiting for.
| affirmative | 我等你。Wǒ děng nǐ. | |
|---|---|---|
| negative | 我不等他。Wǒ bù děng tā. | |
| question | 你等谁？Nǐ děng shéi? |
Completed
了
(děngle) + length of time: how long someone waited.
| affirmative | 我等了一个小时。Wǒ děngle yí ge xiǎoshí. | |
|---|---|---|
| negative | 我没等他。Wǒ méi děng tā. | |
| question | 你等了多长时间？Nǐ děngle duō cháng shíjiān? |
In progress
在
(zài děng): waiting right now.
| affirmative | 我在等公共汽车。Wǒ zài děng gōnggòng qìchē. | |
|---|---|---|
| negative | 我没在等他。Wǒ méi zài děng tā. | |
| question | 你在等谁？Nǐ zài děng shéi? |
Future and intention
要 / 会
(huì děng): a promise to wait.
| affirmative | 我会等你的。Wǒ huì děng nǐ de. | |
|---|---|---|
| negative | 我不会等他的。Wǒ bú huì děng tā de. | |
| question | 你会等我吗？Nǐ huì děng wǒ ma? |
Ability and permission
能 / 可以 / 会
Whether someone can or will wait. (děng bu liǎo): can't wait that long.
| affirmative | 我可以等。Wǒ kěyǐ děng. | |
|---|---|---|
| negative | 我不能再等了。Wǒ bù néng zài děng le. | |
| question | 你能等我一下吗？Nǐ néng děng wǒ yíxià ma? | |
| can't | 我等不了那么久。Wǒ děng bu liǎo nàme jiǔ. |
Result
结果补语
(děngdào): waited until the person or thing came.
| affirmative | 我等到他了。Wǒ děngdào tā le. | |
|---|---|---|
| negative | 我没等到他。Wǒ méi děngdào tā. | |
| question | 你等到他了吗？Nǐ děngdào tā le ma? | |
| can't | 我们等不到出租车。Wǒmen děng bu dào chūzūchē. |
Examples
- 请等一下。Qǐng děng yíxià.Please wait a moment.
- 我在车站等你。Wǒ zài chēzhàn děng nǐ.I'll wait for you at the station.
- 我等了他半个小时，他还没来。Wǒ děngle tā bàn ge xiǎoshí, tā hái méi lái.I waited half an hour for him and he still hasn't come.