等 (děng) means "to wait, and so on, class" with 12 strokes, radical 竹 (bamboo), HSK 2 on the new exam.
Pronunciation
Meaning
Primary: to wait
Other meanings:
- and so on
- class
- rank
- Wait (verb)
Etymology
Oracle-bone origin
等 is not attested in oracle bone script. It appears from the seal period onward as a phono-semantic compound: 竹 (bamboo) on top over 寺 below. The Shuowen explains 等 as referring to bamboo slips of equal length, which were sorted and aligned, hence 'to rank, to be of the same grade'.
Form evolution
The seal form shows 竹 clearly above 寺. In clerical script the bamboo top regularised to ⺮ and 寺 below kept its shape of 土 over 寸. The character has been stable in form since clerical standardisation.
How the meaning evolved
The earliest meaning is 'rank, grade, class' (等级, 一等), directly from the sorted-bamboo-slip image. From 'to grade' came 'to be equal to' (相等, 等于). The common modern sense 'to wait' (等待, 等一下) is a later extension, probably via the idea of standing in one's assigned rank or position. 等 also functions as a plural marker ('and so on', 等等) in formal writing.
Cultural note
Learners often meet 等 first as 'wait' and are surprised to find 平等 ('equality') and 一等奖 ('first prize') using the same character. Both make sense once you see the original image of equal-length bamboo slips being sorted.
Mnemonic
Bamboo at the temple — waiting in rows
Decomposition
Breaking a character into its components makes it far easier to recall. Each component above links to its own detail page.
Basic info
| Pinyin | děng |
| Meanings | to wait, and so on, class, rank, Wait (verb) |
| Stroke count | 12 strokes |
| Radical | 竹 (#118: bamboo) |
| New HSK exam | Recognise at HSK 2 |
| Frequency | #91 most common |
Example sentences
请等一下，我马上来。
Qǐng děng yīxià, wǒ mǎshàng lái.
Please wait a moment, I'll be right there.
From 等 (HSK 2)
她坐在咖啡厅里静静地等待着朋友的到来。
Tā zuò zài kāfēitīng lǐ jìngjìng de děngdài zhe péngyou de dàolái.
She sat quietly in the cafe waiting for her friend to arrive.
From 等待 (HSK 5)
在法律面前人人平等，不分贵贱高低身份。
Zài fǎlǜ miànqián rénrén píngděng, bù fēn guìjiàn gāodī shēnfèn.
Everyone is equal before the law, regardless of status or identity.
From 平等 (HSK 6)
Words containing 等
Related characters
Similar meaning (action)
On the new HSK 2 exam
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.