verb / noun / particle HSK 1
to wait · to wait for · rank · class · grade · equal · and so on · etc.
Meaning
等 is a highly versatile character with several common uses. As a verb, it means 'to wait' or 'to wait for.' As a noun, it refers to rank, grade, or class. As a particle placed after a list, it means 'and so on' or 'etc.'
Usage
When used as a verb meaning 'to wait,' 等 can take a direct object (等人 'wait for someone') or stand alone (等一下 'wait a moment'). When used as a list particle, it appears after nouns (苹果、香蕉等 'apples, bananas, etc.'). Very common in both spoken and written Mandarin across all registers.
Examples
- 01请等我一下，我马上就来。, .Please wait for me a moment, I'll be right there.
- 02我喜欢吃水果，比如苹果、香蕉、橙子等。, , , .I like to eat fruit, such as apples, bananas, oranges, etc.
Common collocations
- 等一下wait a moment
- 等等and so on, etc.
- 等不及can't wait
- 等人wait for someone
Origin
The character 等 combines the bamboo radical 竹 with 寺 (temple), originally referring to bamboo strips used for recording ranks or levels in ancient China.