Sections
Matsu (待つ): what it means in anime
待つ
まつ · matsu · to wait; to await; to look forward to JLPT N5
Matsu means "to wait". The commands are everywhere: 待て ("wait!", rough), 待って ("wait!", neutral), 待ってくれ ("please wait", male), お待ちください ("please wait", polite).
Where you hear it 21 of 42 series
Lines from the Japanese subtitles of episodes 1–3 of each show. A translation is shown only when it clearly matches the line; counts are subtitle lines containing the word.
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Mob Psycho 100 · 14 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 2
除霊なんて 少し待ってもらえば いいでしょ？I'm sure the exorcism can wait a little while.
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Re:Zero · 12 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 1
おーい 待ってくれよHey! Wait up!
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No Game No Life · 11 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 2
お待たせ致しましたわ あら？Sorry for the wait!
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Cowboy Bebop · 11 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 2
無理だと？ なぜだ？ おい 待てImpossible? Why? Hey, wait!
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The Promised Neverland · 9 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 1
ちょっと待って 泣かないで！Wait a minute, don't cry!
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KonoSuba · 9 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 1
待って！ 待ってえ！Wait! Wait!
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Hunter x Hunter · 8 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 3
大変 お待たせいたしましたI apologize for the wait.
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Jujutsu Kaisen · 8 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 3
お待たせ おっ？Sorry for the wait.
Also in: K-On!, Hunter x Hunter, Jujutsu Kaisen, Dr. Stone, My Hero Academia, Code Geass, Erased, Angel Beats!, Soul Eater, One-Punch Man, Steins;Gate, Reincarnated as a Slime, Sword Art Online.
Usage and nuance
待って is one of the first words anime viewers pick up because characters shout it as someone walks away. 待ってよ is pleading, 待てよ is a challenge, and ちょっと待って is "hold on a second".
待ってる ("I'll be waiting") closes many farewell scenes. 待たせたな ("sorry to keep you waiting") is the cool-entrance line of a hero arriving late.
The polite verb 待ちます and the noun 待ち時間 (waiting time) are the versions you will actually use in Japan.
Hear 待つ in Mob Psycho 10014 lines in episodes 1–3 · tappable subtitles · free, no account