ちょっとまって

ちょっとまって
expression
wait a moment, hold on
1. wait a moment, hold on, just a second
A casual request for someone to wait briefly. One of the most common everyday phrases, used to ask for a short pause in conversation or action.
ちょっとまって、今(いま)行(い)く。
Wait a moment — I'm coming now.
ちょっとまって！忘(わす)れ物(もの)した。
Hold on! I forgot something.
「もう行(い)くよ」「ちょっとまって、まだ準備(じゅんび)できてない」
"I'm leaving now." "Wait a sec — I'm not ready yet."

ちょっとまって is the te-form of ちょっと待(ま)つ (to wait a bit). Te-form requests are casual — the て ending implies "please" without actually saying ください.

FORMALITY SCALE:

  • ちょっとまって: casual (friends, family)
  • ちょっと待(ま)ってください: polite
  • 少々(しょうしょう)お待(ま)ちください: formal/business
  • ちょっとまってて: casual, asking someone to keep waiting (te-form + いて)

COMMON VARIATIONS:

  • ちょっとまって: standard
  • ちょっとまってね: softer, reassuring
  • ちょっとまった: calling someone to stop (imperative-like past form)
  • まって！: urgent, abbreviated

USAGE NOTE:
While ちょっとまって literally asks the listener to wait, it is also used as a filler when the speaker needs a moment to think, similar to English "hold on" or "hang on."

general
Added 2026.2.12 16:49
10500/10980_chottomatte