waiting
/weɪt/ (bre, ipa) · [wˈetɪŋ] /weɪt/ (ame, ipa) · [wˈetɪŋ] /ˈwāt/ (ame, mw) · /ˈweɪtɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · [wˈetɪŋ] /ˈweɪtɪŋ/ (ame, ipa)
waiting — 動詞
- waitingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- waitings3rd person singular
- waitinging-ing form
- waitingedpast simple
1. to stay in one place or pause what you are doing because you expect someone to a
等候
停留在原地直到預期之事發生
to stay in one place or pause what you are doing because you expect someone to arrive or something to happen
Élise waited for the bus at the stop for almost twenty minutes.
Élise 在公車站等了將近二十分鐘的車。
wait + for + object
The children could not wait to open their birthday presents.
孩子們等不及要打開他們的生日禮物。
wait + to-infinitive
Kabir waited for the nurse to call his name before going in.
Kabir 等候護理師叫他的名字，然後才進去。
A long line of passengers waited on the platform as the train pulled in.
一排乘客在月臺上等候，火車緩緩駛入。
- leave
to go away from a place rather than remain there expecting something
文法句型
wait + for + object
wait + to-infinitive
wait + object (e.g., wait one's turn)
常見錯誤
2. of a task, decision, or event to be intentionally left undone or postponed until
延緩；擱置
事情刻意推遲處理
of a task, decision, or event to be intentionally left undone or postponed until a more convenient time
The paperwork can wait until Monday — let us go home for the weekend.
文書工作可以等到週一再處理——我們回家過週末吧。
can wait = can be postponed
Jude decided the dishes could wait while he finished writing his report.
Jude 覺得碗盤可以晚點再洗，先把手上的報告寫完。
Gabriela knew the decision about the new office would have to wait for next month.
Gabriela 明白新辦公室的決定得等到下個月才能討論。
Bilal decided the garden work could wait while he watched the football match.
Bilal 決定庭院工作可以晚點再做，先看足球賽。
- be postponed
more neutral and formal; does not imply a deliberate choice to delay
- be put off
informal; similar meaning but suggests delaying because of convenience
- be urgent
cannot be delayed; needs immediate attention
文法句型
can wait
will have to wait
cannot wait
用法筆記
Almost always used with modal verbs (can, could, will have to). The subject is typically a task, decision, or event — not a person.
常見錯誤
3. written on official road signs and notices to tell drivers that they must not st
禁止停靠
交通標示禁止車輛停留
written on official road signs and notices to tell drivers that they must not stop their vehicle in that area, even for a short time
A red sign at the entrance read "No waiting — delivery vehicles only."
入口處的紅色標誌寫著「禁止停靠——僅限送貨車輛」。
sign wording: No waiting
Kwame received a parking fine for waiting in a restricted zone near the station.
Kwame 因為在車站附近的管制區停靠而收到一張罰單。
The double yellow line along the road means no waiting at any time.
路邊的雙黃線表示任何時候都禁止停靠。
Joon drove around the block because the sign said no waiting on that street.
Joon 繞著街區開，因為標誌寫著那條街禁止停靠。
文法句型
No waiting
no waiting at any time
no waiting sign
用法筆記
In British English, 'No waiting' on a sign means no stopping at all. In American English, the equivalent sign usually says 'No parking' or 'No stopping.'
waiting — 名詞
1. the amount of time that passes while you remain in place, expecting someone to c
等待時間
為了某事而停留的時間
the amount of time that passes while you remain in place, expecting someone to come or something to happen
After a long wait at the airport, Talia saw her sister walk through the gate.
在機場漫長的等待之後，Talia 看著姊姊從閘門走出來。
long wait = extended waiting period
The waiting list for the popular restaurant was over three weeks long.
那家熱門餐廳的候位名單排到了三週後。
There was a short wait before the nurse called Emma's name.
等了不久之後，護理師就叫了 Emma 的名字。
The waiting room was full of passengers holding numbered tickets.
等候區裡坐滿了拿著號碼牌的乘客。
文法句型
a + adjective + wait
long / short wait
waiting period
用法筆記
Often appears in compound nouns like 'waiting room,' 'waiting list,' and 'waiting area.' As a countable noun ('a wait'), it usually follows an adjective describing length.
2. the job of serving food and drinks to customers in a restaurant, café, or simila
端菜工作
在餐廳負責送餐的工作
the job of serving food and drinks to customers in a restaurant, café, or similar establishment
Christopher got a summer job doing waiting at a café near the beach.
Christopher 在海邊的一家咖啡館找到一份端菜的暑期工。
doing waiting = working as a server
Wei paid for college by taking waiting jobs at night.
Wei 靠晚上做端菜工作來支付大學學費。
Waiting can be hard work, especially during the dinner rush on Fridays.
端菜工作很辛苦，尤其是週五晚餐的尖峰時段。
Lakan found that waiting paid better than his previous job at the supermarket.
Lakan 發現端菜工作比以前在超市的工作薪水還好。
- waiting tables
more common in American English; means the same thing
- serving
broader term; can refer to serving food in any setting, not just restaurants
文法句型
doing waiting
waiting job
用法筆記
This sense is less common in American English, where 'serving' or 'waiting tables' is preferred. 'Doing waiting' is chiefly British.