待ち時間

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 待ち時間 is read まちじかん and means the time spent waiting for one's turn or for something to begin.
• Basic usage: It is used when reading while waiting to see a doctor or asking at reception how long the wait is.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Duration versus a point in time
  • 待ち時間は三十分です means the wait lasts thirty minutes. 開始時刻(かいしじこく) refers to the time at which something begins, rather than the duration of the wait.