久等 (jiǔ děng) — to wait for a long time

Definition

verb
to wait for a long time

Examples

  • ，久等。
    Shí zài bào qiàn, ràng nín jiǔ děng le.
    I am truly sorry to have kept you waiting so long.
  • 久等？
    Nín jiǔ děng le ma?
    Have you been waiting long?
  • 久等。
    Tā zài mén kǒu jiǔ děng le liǎng gè xiǎo shí.
    He waited at the door for two hours.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

久jiǔlong time
等děngwait

久 adds length of time to 等 waiting, meaning to wait a long time.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

久 likely came from a simple drawing of an arrow tip.

Open 久 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
竹竹zhúbamboo
Sound part声符shēngfú
寺
寺sì等děng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The top 竹 shows bamboo strips used for writing and sorting; the bottom 寺 once gave the sound, but now sounds different.

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