等候

děnghòu

verb HSK 5 #5,277

Meanings

1 to wait; to await

Characters

to wait; season; time

Both characters mean to wait — a formal, patient waiting.

Examples

请在这里等候。

Qǐng zài zhèlǐ děnghòu.

Please wait here.

乘客们在候车室等候。

Chéngkèmen zài hòuchēshì děnghòu.

Passengers are waiting in the waiting room.

他已经等候了两个小时。

Tā yǐjīng děnghòu le liǎng ge xiǎoshí.

He has been waiting for two hours.

我们在机场等候他的到来。

Wǒmen zài jīchǎng děnghòu tā de dàolái.

We're waiting at the airport for his arrival.

Tips

usage

等候 is more formal than 等 (děng) alone. You'll see it on signs and in announcements: 请等候 (please wait), 等候区 (waiting area). In casual speech, just use 等.

Stroke Order

等 děng

候 hòu