How do you say "Waiting" in Japanese?

"Waiting" in Japanese is "待っています。". This phrase is commonly used in Japan.

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How to Say ‘Waiting’ in Japanese

Q: What does "待っています。" mean in English?

"待っています。" means "Waiting" in English. Usage tip: [～ています] often means an action is currently happening, so [待っています] is "is waiting" or "am waiting," not just plain "wait." The person is usually understood from context in Japanese.

待っています。

matsu te i masu

[maht teh ee mah-soo]

💬 Usage Tip: [～ています] often means an action is currently happening, so [待っています] is "is waiting" or "am waiting," not just plain "wait." The person is usually understood from context in Japanese.

Phrase Breakdown

待って

matsu te

waiting

Te-form of 待つ, often used in the progressive form.

Example

ここで待ってください。

Please wait here.

Words in this phrase

待っ

matsu

[maht]

wait

The te-form base from 待つ, used here in a progressive expression.

Example

家族がずっと待っています。

My family has been waiting.

て

[teh]

and; -ing

Te-form ending used to make the ongoing action pattern.

Example

ここで待っています。

I am waiting here.

います

i masu

am/is/are; be doing

In this form, it shows an ongoing action: “is waiting.”

Example

友達を待っています。

I’m waiting for my friend.

Words in this phrase

い

[ee]

to be; ongoing state

In ています, it helps express an action in progress.

Example

今も待っています。

I’m still waiting now.

ます

masu

[mah-soo]

polite verb ending

Adds polite style to the verb expression.

Example

ずっと待っています。

I have been waiting the whole time.

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