等一下 Wait a Moment in Chinese

下午xiàwǔ，朋友péngyou来lái找zhǎo我wǒ玩儿wánr。

In the afternoon, a friend comes over to hang out with me.

我wǒ在zài做zuò饭fàn，我wǒ说shuō：“等děng一下yíxià，我wǒ做zuò完wán就jiù来lái。”

I'm cooking, so I say: "Wait a moment, I'll come as soon as I'm done."

过guò了le一会儿yíhuìr，同事tóngshì打电话dǎ diànhuà来lái了le。

After a little while, a coworker calls.

我wǒ说shuō：“你nǐ等děng一会儿yíhuìr，我wǒ在zài忙máng。”

I say: "Wait a moment, I'm busy."

晚上wǎnshang，我wǒ准备zhǔnbèi出门chūmén，朋友péngyou叫jiào我wǒ。

In the evening, I'm about to go out when my friend calls out to me.

他tā说shuō：“等děng一下yíxià，我们wǒmen一起yìqǐ走zǒu。”

He says: "Wait a moment, let's go together."

我wǒ笑xiào了le，说shuō：“好hǎo，我wǒ等děng你nǐ。”

I smile and say: "OK, I'll wait for you."

🔊 Audio uses your device's Chinese voice for now — teacher recordings are coming. Tap any word to see its meaning.

Key words 生词

等一下děng yíxiàwait a moment

一会儿yíhuìra little while

打电话dǎ diànhuàto make a phone call

出门chūménto go out

准备zhǔnbèito be about to; to prepare

忙mángbusy

等一下 / 等一会儿（wait a moment）

Both mean "wait a moment" and ask someone to hold on; 等一会儿 sounds a touch softer and slightly longer than 等一下.

等一下，我做完就来。— Wait a moment, I'll come as soon as I'm done.

V + 完 + 就 + V（as soon as ... then ...）

完 shows the first action is finished; 就 introduces what happens right after.

我做完就来。— I'll come right after I finish.

准备 + V（about to do something）

准备 before a verb often means someone is getting ready to do it, right before it happens.

我准备出门，朋友叫我。— I was about to go out when my friend called out to me.

1. What is the narrator doing when the friend arrives?

2. Who says 等一下 at the end of the story?

3. How many different people ask someone to wait?

After this reading

I'm Fei, and I teach Mandarin one-on-one on Preply. Bring this text to a trial lesson — we'll fix your tones and turn it into a real conversation.