Meanings of 待
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About 待
Podcast: 待
Podcast: 待
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AI study notes for 待
待 (dāi) vs 等 (děng) — use 待 when emphasizing the act of waiting or staying in a specific place, while 等 is more about waiting for someone or something.
Learners often confuse 待 with other similar verbs like 等 (děng, to wait) or 住 (zhù, to stay), leading to subtle differences in meaning. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when talking about hosting or receiving someone.
While 待 is not in HSK levels 1-6, understanding it can help learners recognize its connections with verbs indicating actions or states. Focus on its usage in simple sentences to build confidence with similar verbs.
A common mistake is using 待 when one means to simply wait, such as saying '我待你' (Wǒ dāi nǐ), which can imply waiting for someone rather than just being in their company. The correct way to express waiting is '我等你' (Wǒ děng nǐ).
Pronunciation of 待
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Jason Explains 待 to you
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Learning Lab
Knowing 待 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
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Etymology of 待
Phonosemantic compound. 彳 represents the meaning and 寺 represents the sound.
To welcome someone arriving 彳 at the royal court 寺
Origin
What kind of character is 待?
Decomposition of 待
Parts
Which of these is part of 待?
How to say to stay in Chinese
“to stay” in Chinese is待
The character 待 (dāi) primarily means 'to stay' or 'to wait.' It can also refer to treating someone, as in hosting or entertaining guests. In different contexts, it conveys intentions or actions that are about to take place, making it versatile in everyday conversations.
When to use 待
Learners often confuse 待 with other similar verbs like 等 (děng, to wait) or 住 (zhù, to stay), leading to subtle differences in meaning. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when talking about hosting or receiving someone.
待 or something close to it
待 (dāi) vs 等 (děng) — use 待 when emphasizing the act of waiting or staying in a specific place, while 等 is more about waiting for someone or something.
What learners get wrong
A common mistake is using 待 when one means to simply wait, such as saying '我待你' (Wǒ dāi nǐ), which can imply waiting for someone rather than just being in their company. The correct way to express waiting is '我等你' (Wǒ děng nǐ).
Write 待
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Practice writing 待 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar patterns of 待
待 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 9 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
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他是来这里待的。
He came here to stay.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
大家要认真对____考试，要不然会影响毕业的。
Everyone must take the exam seriously — otherwise it will affect graduation.
Common confusions with 待
Similar shape but different meaning.
待 and 代 are phonetically similar, but 待 means 'to stay' or 'to wait', while 代 means 'to replace' or 'generation'.
代替他做这件事。
待 and 代 are phonetically similar, but 待 means 'to stay' or 'to wait', while 代 means 'to replace' or 'generation'.
Which one
Which one means “to stay”?
Usage Notes for 待
Learners often confuse 待 with other verbs that imply different actions such as 等 (to wait) or 住 (to live).
我正在待在家里。
I am staying at home.
Get it right
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我正在____在家里。
I am staying at home.
Example sentences for 待 (14)
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Word Family of 待
Characters with 待
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Frequently asked questions about 待
Yes, 待 (dāi) can indicate future actions in contexts like '我待要去旅行' (I am going to travel). This usage highlights the intention to take action in the near future.
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