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
Drill the tone of 待 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 待
Phonosemantic compound. 彳 represents the meaning and 寺 represents the sound.
To welcome someone arriving 彳 at the royal court 寺
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 待
Phonosemantic compound. 彳 represents the meaning and 寺 represents the sound.
- 1The giveawayTo welcome someone arriving 彳 at the royal court 寺
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 待? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 待?
Decomposition of 待
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component 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.
Complete the Sentence
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'.
Spot the Difference
Which character 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.
Fill in the Blank
我正在____在家里。
I am staying at home.
Example Sentences for 待 (14)
Word Family of 待
Compound Meaning
What does 嘚 mean?
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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