待
wait · depend on
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of go and temple. Waiting at temple.
Symbolism
Wait, expectation, reception. Represents time and patience.
Component Breakdown
彳 + 寺
Words & Expressions
Words written with 待
Four-Character Compounds
官官接待
かんかんせったい
bureaucrats entertaining bureaucrats using public funds
Proverbs & Idioms
果報は寝て待て
かほうはねてまて
Good fortune comes to those who sleep
Good things come to those who wait
Poetry
今こむと 言ひしばかりに 長月の 有明の月を 待ちいでつるかな
Only because you said you would come at once, I waited through the long ninth month until the dawn moon rose.
小倉山 峰のもみぢ葉 心あらば 今ひとたびの みゆき待たなむ
Maple leaves on the peak of Ogura, if you have any heart, wait for one more imperial visit before you fall.
Anime & Manga
あの夏で待ってる
Waiting in the Summer
A well-known work with 待 in its Japanese title.
小林さんちのメイドラゴン バレンタイン, そして温泉! (あまり期待しないでください)
Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid: Valentines and Hot Springs! (Please Don't Get Your Hopes Up)
A well-known work with 待 in its Japanese title.
魔法使いの嫁 星待つひと
The Ancient Magus' Bride: Those Awaiting a Star
A well-known work with 待 in its Japanese title.
春待つ僕ら
Waiting for Spring
A well-known work with 待 in its Japanese title.
Related Figures & Stories
Other kanji with the same meaning
“depend on”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 待 mean in Japanese?
待 means wait, depend on.
How do you read 待?
On'yomi: タイ (TAI). Kun'yomi: ま.つ、-ま.ち (matsu, machi).
How many strokes does 待 have?
待 has 9 strokes. Its radical is 彳 (step).
Is 待 a good kanji for a tattoo?
待 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means wait, depend on. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.