Readings: タイ (Onyomi), ま.つ, ま.ち (Kunyomi)
Meaning: wait, depend on, entertain
The kanji 待 combines 彳 (gyōninben), the “going person” radical, indicating movement or action related to people, and 寺 (ji), meaning “temple” or phonetically used to convey the idea of “holding” or “serving.” Together, it represents the act of a person stopping and “waiting” or “attending” to someone/something.
View JLPT N4 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 待 has 9 strokes. It starts with the gyōninben radical on the left, followed by the strokes of 寺 on the right. Pay attention to the correct order and direction of each stroke for proper balance.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 彳 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 9 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
| Grade | 3 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- タイ (Tai)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- まつ (matsu)
- まち (machi)
Common Words Using 待
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 期待 | きたい | expectation, hope |
| 招待 | しょうたい | invitation |
| 待遇 | たいぐう | treatment, reception |
| 待望 | たいぼう | long-awaited, eagerly anticipated |
| 待機 | たいき | standby, alert |
| 優待 | ゆうたい | special treatment, preferential |
| 接待 | せったい | reception, entertainment |
| 待合室 | まちあいしつ | waiting room |
| 待遇改善 | たいぐうかいぜん | improvement of working conditions |
| 待命 | たいめい | waiting for orders |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 待つ | まつ | to wait |
| 待ち合わせ | まちあわせ | rendezvous, meeting |
| 待ち時間 | まちじかん | waiting time |
| お待ちください | おまちください | Please wait (polite) |
| 待たせる | またせる | to make someone wait |
| 待ち遠しい | まちどおしい | cannot wait for, looking forward to |
| 待ち望む | まちのぞむ | to look forward to, to anticipate |
| 待ち伏せ | まちぶせ | ambush |
| 待合所 | まちあいじょ | waiting place |
| 待ちかねる | まちかねる | to be tired of waiting |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 駅で友達を待ちます。
Kana: えきで ともだちを まちます。
Romaji: Eki de tomodachi o machimasu.
English: I will wait for my friend at the station.
Japanese: 少しお待ちください。
Kana: すこし おまちください。
Romaji: Sukoshi omachi kudasai.
English: Please wait a moment.
Japanese: バスを待っています。
Kana: バスを まっています。
Romaji: Basu o matteimasu.
English: I am waiting for the bus.
Japanese: 彼は私の返事を待っている。
Kana: かれは わたしの へんじを まっている。
Romaji: Kare wa watashi no henji o matteiru.
English: He is waiting for my reply.
Japanese: 期待に応える。
Kana: きたいに こたえる。
Romaji: Kitai ni kotaeru.
English: To live up to expectations.
Japanese: 招待状を送る。
Kana: しょうたいじょうを おくる。
Romaji: Shōtaijō o okuru.
English: To send an invitation.
Japanese: 病院の待合室で待った。
Kana: びょういんの まちあいしつで まった。
Romaji: Byōin no machiaishitsu de matta.
English: I waited in the hospital waiting room.
Japanese: 春の訪れを待ち望む。
Kana: はるの おとずれを まちのぞむ。
Romaji: Haru no otozure o machinonozomu.
English: I look forward to the arrival of spring.
Japanese: 列に並んで待つ。
Kana: れつに ならんで まつ。
Romaji: Retsu ni narande matsu.
English: To wait in line.
Japanese: 約束の時間まで待とう。
Kana: やくそくの じかんまで まとう。
Romaji: Yakusoku no jikan made matō.
English: Let’s wait until the promised time.
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