děng děng: 等等 - And so on, etc., Wait a moment

• Keywords: deng deng, děng děng, 等等, Chinese for etc, how to say etc in Chinese, Chinese for and so on, how to say wait in Chinese, wait a moment in Chinese, hold on in Chinese, deng yi xia, Chinese list vocabulary
• Summary: The Chinese word 等等 (děng děng) is a versatile and essential term for beginners with two primary meanings. It is most commonly used at the end of a list to mean “and so on” or “etc.,” similar to its English counterpart. It can also be used as a command meaning “wait a moment” or “hold on,” making it a crucial phrase in daily conversations. Understanding how context differentiates these two meanings is key to mastering its use.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): děng děng
• Part of Speech: Particle / Verb Phrase
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: A word used either to conclude a list (meaning “etc.”) or to ask someone to pause (meaning “wait”).
• In a Nutshell: Think of 等等 as a word that handles “continuation” in two different ways. When you're listing things like fruits, hobbies, or people, adding 等等 at the end implies the list continues with similar items. When you're in a conversation and need a moment, saying 等等 tells the other person to pause their actions or speech, with the implication that you will continue shortly.

• 等 (děng): The character 等 is composed of the bamboo radical (⺮) on top of a temple (寺). Its original meaning related to arranging bamboo slips of equal length, which led to its modern meanings of “to wait,” “equal to,” and “class/grade.”
• The repetition in 等等 (děng děng) serves two different functions depending on the context.
  • When used for “etc.”, repeating the character for “class/grade” emphasizes that you're referring to many more items of the same class.
  • When used for “wait,” repeating the verb softens it slightly, turning a stark “Wait!” into a more conversational “Wait a moment” or “Hold on.”

While 等等 is a functional word, its usage touches upon Chinese communication styles. In its “etc.” sense, 等等 is used frequently because Chinese communication often values brevity and shared understanding. Instead of listing every single item, a speaker will list a few representative examples and use 等等 to signal, “You get the idea.” It assumes the listener can infer the rest from the context, which is a common feature in a high-context culture. In its “wait a moment” sense, it's a direct and efficient conversational tool. Unlike the Western tendency to sometimes use softer phrases like “Could you hold on for just a second?”, a simple 等等 is perfectly normal and not considered rude among peers or in informal situations. It prioritizes clarity and function. However, in more formal or service-oriented settings, a politer term like `稍等 (shāo děng)` might be preferred.

等等 is a high-frequency word used constantly in both spoken and written Chinese.

This is its most common usage. It always comes at the end of a list of two or more items. It's neutral and can be used in any context, from a casual chat about groceries to a formal business report.

• Structure: Item A, Item B, Item C, 等等.
• Formality: Neutral. Suitable for both spoken and written language.

This is an imperative, used to get someone to pause. It's primarily used in spoken, informal contexts. Your tone of voice is very important here; it can make the command sound like a friendly “hold on” or an urgent “stop!”

• Usage: Often used as a standalone interjection.
• Formality: Informal. Perfect for friends, family, and colleagues. You might use a politer form with a superior or a customer.

• Example 1: (Meaning: etc.)
  • 我喜欢吃水果，比如苹果、香蕉、西瓜等等。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xǐhuān chī shuǐguǒ, bǐrú píngguǒ, xiāngjiāo, xīguā děng děng.
  • English: I like to eat fruit, for example apples, bananas, watermelon, and so on.
  • Analysis: This is the classic usage. 等等 comes at the end of a list of examples to show that the list is not exhaustive.
• Example 2: (Meaning: Wait a moment)
  • 等等，我还没准备好！
  • Pinyin: Děng děng, wǒ hái méi zhǔnbèi hǎo!
  • English: Wait a moment, I'm not ready yet!
  • Analysis: Here, 等等 is used as a direct, standalone command to tell someone to pause. The context makes the meaning clear.
• Example 3: (Meaning: etc.)
  • 我们店里卖各种文具，有笔、本子、橡皮等等。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen diàn lǐ mài gèzhǒng wénjù, yǒu bǐ, běnzi, xiàngpí děng děng.
  • English: Our store sells all kinds of stationery, like pens, notebooks, erasers, etc.
  • Analysis: A common commercial or descriptive use. The speaker is listing a few key items to represent a larger category.
• Example 4: (Meaning: Wait a moment)
  • A: 我们走吧。 B: 等等，我穿一下鞋。
  • Pinyin: A: Wǒmen zǒu ba. B: Děng děng, wǒ chuān yīxià xié.
  • English: A: Let's go. B: Hold on, let me put on my shoes.
  • Analysis: A perfect example of 等等 used in a quick, everyday conversational exchange. It functions as a polite interruption.
• Example 5: (Meaning: etc.)
  • 这次会议讨论了很多问题，包括预算、人事、未来计划等等。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì huìyì tǎolùnle hěnduō wèntí, bāokuò yùsuàn, rénshì, wèilái jìhuà děng děng.
  • English: This meeting discussed many issues, including the budget, personnel, future plans, and so on.
  • Analysis: This shows 等等 being used in a more formal, business-like context. Its function remains the same.
• Example 6: (Meaning: Wait a moment)
  • 等等，你刚才说什么？我没听清楚。
  • Pinyin: Děng děng, nǐ gāngcái shuō shénme? Wǒ méi tīng qīngchǔ.
  • English: Hold on, what did you just say? I didn't hear clearly.
  • Analysis: Here, 等等 is used to interrupt the flow of conversation to ask for clarification. It's like saying “Wait, back up a second.”
• Example 7: (Meaning: etc.)
  • 他有很多爱好，比如看书、听音乐、运动等等。
  • Pinyin: Tā yǒu hěnduō àihào, bǐrú kànshū, tīng yīnyuè, yùndòng děng děng.
  • English: He has many hobbies, such as reading, listening to music, exercising, etc.
  • Analysis: A simple, descriptive sentence listing personal interests, a very common topic for language learners.
• Example 8: (Meaning: Wait a moment - on the phone)
  • 请等等，我去叫他。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng děng děng, wǒ qù jiào tā.
  • English: Please hold on, I'll go get him.
  • Analysis: Adding `请 (qǐng)` before 等等 makes the command much more polite, suitable for situations like answering the phone.
• Example 9: (Meaning: etc.)
  • 这个项目需要很多人的合作，比如设计师、工程师、市场人员等等。
  • Pinyin: Zhège xiàngmù xūyào hěnduō rén de hézuò, bǐrú shèjìshī, gōngchéngshī, shìchǎng rényuán děng děng.
  • English: This project requires the cooperation of many people, such as designers, engineers, marketing staff, and so on.
  • Analysis: Another example in a professional context, demonstrating the term's versatility.
• Example 10: (Meaning: Let's wait and see)
  • 我们等等看情况再说。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen děng děng kàn qíngkuàng zàishuō.
  • English: Let's wait and see how the situation develops before we say any more.
  • Analysis: This is a slightly different but related usage. Here, “等等看 (děng děng kàn)” is a set phrase meaning “to wait and see.” The core meaning of “wait” is still present.

• Context is Everything: The biggest challenge for a learner is distinguishing the two meanings. The key is grammar and context. If 等等 comes after a list of nouns, it means “etc.” If it's used at the beginning of a sentence as an interjection, or as a verb telling someone to do something, it means “wait.” You will never hear someone list items and then have “wait” as the meaning.
• Not a Direct Replacement for “Wait a moment”: While 等等 means “wait,” `等一下 (děng yīxià)` is often a more common and slightly softer way to say it in conversation. Think of 等等 as “Hold on” and `等一下` as “Wait a moment.” They are largely interchangeable, but `等一下` is a safe bet if you're unsure.
• Placement for “Etc.”: Unlike in English where “etc.” can feel a bit tacked on, 等等 is a very natural and standard way to end a list in Chinese. Do not place it anywhere else in the sentence.
  • Incorrect: 我喜欢等等苹果和香蕉。 (I like etc. apples and bananas.)
  • Correct: 我喜欢苹果、香蕉等等。 (I like apples, bananas, etc.)

• 等一下 (děng yīxià) - The most common way to say “wait a moment.” Literally “wait a bit.” Often used interchangeably with 等等 in its “wait” meaning.
• 等一等 (děng yī děng) - A close synonym of `等一下`, also meaning “wait a moment.” The verb reduplication softens the command.
• 稍等 (shāo děng) - A more polite and formal way to say “wait a moment,” literally “wait slightly.” Often used by staff in restaurants, hotels, and offices.
• 之类 (zhī lèi) - A more formal or written equivalent of 等等 (etc.), meaning “of that kind” or “and the like.”
• 什么的 (shénme de) - A very colloquial and informal way to say “and what not” or “and stuff like that” at the end of a list.
• 比如 (bǐrú) - Means “for example.” It is used to introduce a list of examples that is often concluded with 等等.
• 例如 (lìrú) - A more formal version of `比如`, also meaning “for example.”
• 还有 (hái yǒu) - Means “also have” or “in addition.” Used to add more items to a list before potentially ending with 等等.