等一下
děng yíxià
wait a moment / hold on
等一下 is the most natural way to ask someone to wait briefly. It works with friends, taxi drivers, shop clerks, and on the phone.
Example sentences
等一下，我马上来。
Děng yíxià, wǒ mǎshàng lái.
Wait a moment, I am coming right away.
师傅，请等一下。
Shīfu, qǐng děng yíxià.
Driver, please wait a moment.
How to use 等一下 in practice
等一下 is a daily life item that is easiest to learn inside a complete sentence. Read it with the pinyin děng yíxià, then connect it to the meaning “wait a moment / hold on” before trying to use it from memory. The examples on this page show the phrase in context: 等一下，我马上来。 / 师傅，请等一下。.
When you practice 等一下, do not stop at recognition. Say one example aloud, swap in a new person, place, object, or time word, and then use the phrase in a short answer. This turns a glossary entry into real Mandarin output and exposes word-order or pronunciation mistakes quickly.
Common learner mistake
A common learner mistake is to memorize 等一下 only as “wait a moment / hold on” and then translate word by word from English. Instead, learn the whole chunk with the words around it. Notice which nouns, verbs, measure words, or polite markers appear before and after the phrase, and copy that pattern in your own sentence.
Mini practice prompt
Practice prompt: open Chinese travel phrases, start a short conversation, and use 等一下 naturally in your first or second reply. If the sentence feels awkward, compare it with the examples above and try again with a smaller sentence.
Memory tip: review 等一下 tomorrow by covering the English meaning, reading only děng yíxià, and producing a sentence before checking the examples. Active recall helps this word survive beyond one reading session.
Practice related pages
FAQ
What is the difference between 等一下 and 等一会儿?
They are nearly identical. 等一下 sounds slightly more urgent or immediate, while 等一会儿 feels a bit more relaxed.
How can I remember 等一下 faster?
Say 等一下 inside a full sentence, change one detail, and repeat it in a realistic prompt. The combination of sound, meaning, and context is stronger than memorizing the translation alone.
Can I use 等一下 in conversation practice?
Yes. Start with the example sentence, then use 等一下 in a short AI conversation so you can see whether the surrounding word order and tone feel natural.
Published by AI Chinese Coach