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Wait vs Stand by in Korean

Confused between 기다리다 and 대기하다? 🔴 기다리다 [gidarida] - Wait (for someone or something casually)

Wait vs Stand by in Korean — Korean vocab chart
Wait vs Stand by

How these words work together

Both 기다리다 and 대기하다 mean to wait, but they are used in different situations. 기다리다 is used for general waiting, like waiting for a friend or a bus. 대기하다 means to stand by or be on standby, often used in formal or technical contexts, like waiting for instructions or being ready to act.

Words in this chart

KoreanRomanizationEnglish
기다리다gidaridaWait
대기하다daegihadaStand by

Example sentences

  1. 나는 친구를 기다리고 있어요.

    I am waiting for my friend.

  2. 비행기가 출발할 때까지 대기하세요.

    Please stand by until the plane departs.

  3. 의사가 올 때까지 대기실에서 기다리세요.

    Please wait in the waiting room until the doctor comes.

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