qǐng shāo děng: 请稍等 - Please wait a moment, One moment please
Quick Summary
Keywords: qǐng shāo děng, 请稍等, please wait in Chinese, how to say hold on in Chinese, one moment please Chinese, qǐng děng yī xià, polite Chinese phrases, Chinese for customer service, learning Chinese basics.
Summary: Learn how to politely say “please wait a moment” in Chinese with the essential phrase 请稍等 (qǐng shāo děng). This is a crucial expression for any beginner, used constantly in customer service, on the phone, and in daily interactions across China. This guide breaks down its meaning, cultural importance, and provides numerous practical examples, helping you understand when to use it versus its common alternative, `请等一下 (qǐng děng yī xià)`, to sound more like a native speaker.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): qǐng shāo děng
Part of Speech: Verb Phrase / Common Expression
HSK Level: HSK 2 (based on individual characters)
Concise Definition: A polite and standard request for someone to wait for a short period.
In a Nutshell: 请稍等 (qǐng shāo děng) is the go-to formal and polite way to say “Please wait a moment” or “One moment, please.” It's the phrase you'll hear most often from service staff in banks, restaurants, or on the phone. The use of “请 (qǐng)” (please) and “稍 (shāo)” (slightly) makes it respectful and considerate of the other person's time.
Character Breakdown
请 (qǐng): This is the “please” character. It instantly makes any request or command polite and respectful.
稍 (shāo): This character means “slightly,” “a little,” or “a bit.” It modifies the duration of the wait, implying that it won't be for very long.
等 (děng): This is the core verb, meaning “to wait.”
When combined, 请 (qǐng) + 稍 (shāo) + 等 (děng) literally means “please slightly wait,” which perfectly conveys the English meaning of “Please wait a moment.”
Cultural Context and Significance
The use of 请稍等 (qǐng shāo děng) is deeply tied to the Chinese concept of 礼貌 (lǐmào), or politeness and courtesy. In service-oriented and formal interactions, showing respect is paramount. This phrase is a small but significant social lubricant that maintains a harmonious and respectful atmosphere.
In American/Western culture, it's common to use very casual phrases like “Hang on a sec” or “Just a minute” even in service situations. While China also has informal equivalents, 请稍等 sets a more professional and respectful default tone. Using an overly casual phrase in a formal context in China can be perceived as abrupt or even slightly rude, far more so than in the West. By using 请稍等, you are explicitly acknowledging that you are taking up someone's time and you appreciate their patience. It's a simple way to show good manners and social awareness.
Practical Usage in Modern China
This phrase is ubiquitous in daily life. Here’s where you'll most often encounter it:
Customer Service: This is the primary context. Whether you're on the phone with customer support, at a hotel check-in desk, or talking to a bank teller, this is the standard phrase they will use to ask you to hold on.
Restaurants & Shops: A waiter might say 请稍等 while checking if a table is free, or a shop assistant might say it while retrieving an item from the storeroom.
Formal & Business Settings: In an office, you might say this to a colleague who asks for your help while you're finishing another task. It maintains a professional and courteous atmosphere.
Slightly Formal Daily Life: If a stranger on the street asks you for directions, you might say 请稍等 as you pull out your phone to check a map. It's polite and appropriate for interacting with people you don't know.
In terms of formality, 请稍等 is considered slightly more formal and written-sounding than its close cousin, `请等一下 (qǐng děng yī xià)`. While they are often interchangeable, `请等一下` is more common in casual, spoken conversations.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
好的，请稍等，我马上帮您查询。
Pinyin: Hǎo de, qǐng shāo děng, wǒ mǎshàng bāng nín cháxún.
English: Okay, please wait a moment, I will help you check right away.
Analysis: A classic customer service response you would hear at a bank or helpdesk. The use of `您 (nín)` and `请稍等` establishes a polite, professional tone.
Example 2:
您的菜正在做，请稍等片刻。
Pinyin: Nín de cài zhèngzài zuò, qǐng shāo děng piànkè.
English: Your dish is being prepared, please wait for a short while.
Analysis: A common phrase from a waiter in a restaurant. `片刻 (piànkè)` is a slightly more formal word for “a moment” and pairs well with `请稍等`.
Example 3:
A: 你好，请问经理在吗？ (Nǐ hǎo, qǐngwèn jīnglǐ zài ma?) - Hello, is the manager in?
B: 他在开会，请稍等，我去叫他。 (Tā zài kāihuì, qǐng shāo děng, wǒ qù jiào tā.) - He's in a meeting. Please wait a moment, I'll go get him.
Analysis: Used in an office setting. It's polite and efficient.
Example 4:
请稍等，系统正在加载，请勿关闭页面。
Pinyin: Qǐng shāo děng, xìtǒng zhèngzài jiāzài, qǐng wù guānbì yèmiàn.
English: Please wait a moment, the system is loading. Please do not close the page.
Analysis: This is an example of written Chinese, often seen on websites or software applications. `请稍等` is very appropriate for this formal, instructional context.
Example 5:
对不起，这个尺码我们没有了。请稍等，我查一下库存。
Pinyin: Duìbùqǐ, zhège chǐmǎ wǒmen méiyǒule. Qǐng shāo děng, wǒ chá yīxià kùcún.
English: Sorry, we are out of this size. Please wait a moment, let me check the inventory.
Analysis: A typical interaction in a clothing or shoe store. It shows courtesy while performing a task for the customer.
Example 6:
（在电话上）(On the phone)
请稍等，我为您转接客服部门。
Pinyin: Qǐng shāo děng, wǒ wèi nín zhuǎnjiē kèfú bùmén.
English: Please hold on, I will transfer you to the customer service department.
Analysis: “Please hold” is the most direct translation of `请稍等` in a phone call context.
Example 7:
A: 服务员，买单！(Fúwùyuán, mǎidān!) - Waiter, the bill!
B: 好的，请稍等！(Hǎo de, qǐng shāo děng!) - Okay, one moment please!
Analysis: A fast, polite, and standard response in any restaurant in China.
Example 8:
喂？信号不太好，请稍等。
Pinyin: Wèi? Xìnhào bù tài hǎo, qǐng shāo děng.
English: Hello? The signal isn't very good, please hold on.
Analysis: A practical phrase used during a phone call when experiencing technical difficulties.
Example 9:
麻烦您请稍等，前面的顾客还没办完。
Pinyin: Máfán nín qǐng shāo děng, qiánmiàn de gùkè hái méi bàn wán.
English: Sorry to trouble you, but please wait a moment, the customer in front hasn't finished yet.
Analysis: This sentence adds `麻烦您 (máfán nín)` to be extra polite, common when you anticipate a slightly longer wait.
Example 10:
老师，我有一个问题。请稍等，我把问题写下来。
Pinyin: Lǎoshī, wǒ yǒu yīgè wèntí. Qǐng shāo děng, wǒ bǎ wèntí xiě xiàlái.
English: Teacher, I have a question. Please wait a moment, let me write the question down.
Analysis: Shows how the speaker can use the phrase to ask for a moment for themselves, not just when serving others.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
请等一下 (qǐng děng yī xià): The most common synonym; slightly more colloquial and conversational than `请稍等`.
稍等 (shāo děng): A shortened version, often used as a quick, polite response. Less formal than the full phrase but more formal than just `等一下`.
等一会儿 (děng huìr): “Wait a little while.” Often implies a slightly longer, but still short, waiting period than `等一下`. Can also mean “See you in a bit.”
等一等 (děng yī děng): “Wait a bit.” Often used as a gentle suggestion to pause or slow down.
片刻 (piànkè): A more formal or literary word for “a moment.” You'll see it in writing, such as `请稍等片刻`.
礼貌 (lǐmào): The core cultural value of politeness that makes phrases like `请稍等` so important in Chinese society.
麻烦您 (máfan nín): “To trouble you.” A phrase often added before a request like `请稍等` to be exceptionally polite and acknowledge the inconvenience.
别着急 (bié zhāojí): “Don't worry,” or “Don't be anxious.” A phrase that can be used to reassure someone who is waiting.