N5 · Phrase guide
Chotto Matte — Wait a Moment
ちょっと待って
ちょっとまって
Wait a moment (casual)
Nuance
ちょっと softens the request. Polite upgrades: ちょっとお待ちください, 少々お待ちください.
Cultural note
Holding up a finger with ちょっと待って is common among friends. With clients, avoid casual matte.
Examples
ちょっと待って。
Wait a sec.
Friend is walking ahead
少々お待ちください。
Please wait a moment.
Shop staff to customer
Common mistakes
- Saying 待って to a customer
- Using ちょっと待って in formal email
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