Dictionary / Japanese / Wait
How to Say "Wait" in Japanese
待ってください
matte kudasai
Literally: Please wait
待って
wait
ください
please
Polite or casual
Polite少々お待ちください (shōshō omachi kudasai)
Casualちょっと待って (chotto matte) / 待って (matte)
待ってください is polite and fine with most people. ちょっと待ってください (chotto matte kudasai), please wait a moment, sounds a little softer. With friends and family, ちょっと待って or just 待って is normal. 少々お待ちください is very polite keigo: shop staff, receptionists and people on the phone say it to customers. You will hear it often, and it is the form to use if you serve customers yourself.
Correct
待ってください
What people say wrong
ちょっと待って
Hang on. Fine with friends, too casual for a customer or a boss.
The mistake to avoid. ちょっと待って is often the first version learners pick up, from friends, TV and anime. It is casual, so with a customer, a teacher or your manager it can sound abrupt. Add ください, or use 少々お待ちください at work. Watch the particle too: the person you wait for takes を. Say 友達を待っています (tomodachi o matte imasu), I am waiting for my friend.
In context
ちょっと待って、すぐ行く。
Chotto matte, sugu iku.
Hang on, I'm coming. (casual)
すみません、ちょっと待ってください。
Sumimasen, chotto matte kudasai.
Sorry, could you wait a moment?
少々お待ちください。
Shōshō omachi kudasai.
One moment, please. (staff to a customer)