Definition
等 (děng) as a particle means 'by the time/when' — it marks a point in time after which something happens. It is shorter and more general than 等到 (děng dào) 'by the time (when)', and less conditional than 一旦 (yī dàn) 'once'. Do not confuse it with the verb 等 'to wait', which is a separate word.
to wait forto awaitby the timewhentill
Easily confused
- 持chílook-aliketo hold; to grasp
- 灯dēngsound-alikelamp; light
- 诗shīlook-alikepoem; poetry; verse
- 登dēngsound-aliketo climb, to ascend (a mountain, stairs, etc.)
- 待dàilook-aliketo treat, to deal with (a person or a matter)
- 瞪dèngsound-aliketo stare at; to glare at
- 第dìlook-alike(prefix) used before a number to form ordinal numbers (first, second, third, etc.)
- 蹬dēngsound-aliketo step on, to tread on
Examples
- 等。Wǒ zài chēzhàn děng nǐ.I'm waiting for you at the station.
- 等。děng tā huílái wǒmen zài chīfàn.We'll eat when he comes back.
- 等，。Qǐng děng yíxià, wǒ mǎshàng jiù lái.Please wait a moment, I'll be right there.
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