How do you say "to wait" in Japanese?

待つ

matsu

Verb Kanji

In Japanese, "to wait" is 待つ (matsu).

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Pronunciation

待つ is written using kanji. Romanised as matsu, it sounds roughly like "mah-tsoo" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

The kanji 待 uses a person element with a phonetic suggesting pause and expectation, meaning to wait or stand by.

Example sentence

子供たちは待ちますのが楽しそうです。

Kodomotachi wa machimasu no ga tanoshisou desu.

The children seem to enjoy waiting.

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How to remember 待つ

A person pausing and holding still. Picture someone standing in place, watching and waiting for something to happen.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

See more Japanese verbs.

Questions about 待つ

How do you pronounce 待つ?

待つ is romanised as matsu. Say it roughly like "mah-tsoo" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is 待つ formal or casual?

待つ is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.

How is 待つ written in Japanese?

待つ is written using kanji. The kanji 待 uses a person element with a phonetic suggesting pause and expectation, meaning to wait or stand by..

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

You can play free Japanese minigames in your browser on the Noun Town online games page, with no sign-up needed. Every word in the Japanese glossary also has native audio and an example sentence you can revisit any time.

"To wait" in other languages

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