待
KANJI DETAIL
wait
On readingたい9 strokesN3
Radical 彳 · walk slowlyStroke order
Loading the stroke order for 待.
Japanese readings
- On reading
- たい
- Kun reading
- まつ
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure: 待 has 9 strokes, the on-reading たい, and the kun-reading まつ. 待つ (まつ) means to wait, while 期待 (きたい) means expectation or hope.
- Basic usage: 待つ describes waiting for a person or result to arrive; 期待 concerns hoping for or anticipating something in the future.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- Waiting and expecting
- 友達を待つことにした means decided to wait for a friend. 結果が届くまで静かに待ってください asks someone to wait quietly until the results arrive.
- 開館を町の人々が期待している means that residents are looking forward to an opening. 期待していたよりも compares something with what the speaker had expected or hoped for.

