What is chotto matte?

"Chotto matte" (ちょっと待って) is a common Japanese phrase that translates to "wait a minute," "just a moment," or "hold on." It is used frequently in everyday conversation to ask someone to pause or delay an action.

• Meaning: The phrase combines "chotto" (ちょっと), meaning "a little" or "a bit," with "matte" (待って), the te-form of the verb "matsu" (待つ), which means "to wait." So, literally, it means "wait a little." https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Meaning

• Usage: It's used in a variety of situations, from asking someone to stop talking for a second to requesting a delay in a physical action. The level of politeness is relatively informal. https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Usage

• Formality: While generally acceptable, "chotto matte" is considered fairly casual. For more polite situations, you might use "chotto matte kudasai" (ちょっと待ってください), which adds "kudasai" (ください), meaning "please." https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Formality

• Alternatives: Other ways to say "wait" with varying degrees of politeness include "omachi kudasai" (お待ちください), which is very polite, or simply "matte kudasai" (待ってください), which is more polite than "chotto matte." https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Alternatives