How to say “Wait a moment” in Japanese

ちょっと待ってください
ちょっとまってくださいchotto matte kudasai
expressionEveryday phrases
The short answer

“Wait a moment” in Japanese is ちょっと待ってください (ちょっとまってください), pronounced chotto matte kudasai.

Pronunciation

The phrase has 10 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or use the play button above for the whole phrase:

How to use it

The て-form + ください makes a polite request. Among friends: . Staff say .

Example sentences

  • ちょっと待ってください。ちょっとまってください。
    Please wait a moment.
  • ちょっと待って!ちょっとまって!
    Wait a sec!
MeaningJapaneseReading
very polite少々お待ちくださいしょうしょうおまちください shōshō omachi kudasai

Quick practice

Test yourself0/3
  1. What does {{ちょっと待ってください}} mean?

  2. How do you read {{ちょっと待ってください}}?

  3. Which word means “It's cold today”?

FAQ

How do you say Wait a moment in Japanese?

Wait a moment in Japanese is ちょっと待ってください (ちょっとまってください), pronounced “chotto matte kudasai”.

How do you write Wait a moment in Japanese?

It's written ちょっと待ってください with kanji, or ちょっとまってください in hiragana. Both are read chotto matte kudasai.