等绿灯
To wait for green light
Literalmente: Wait [for] green light
Use this literally when you are at a crosswalk or driving and the light is red.
En 15 segundos
- Literally means waiting for a traffic signal to change to green.
- Used in daily life while walking, cycling, or driving in cities.
- Usually literal; rarely used as a metaphor for business permissions.
Significado
This phrase literally means waiting for the traffic light to turn green so you can cross the street or drive through an intersection.
Ejemplos clave
3 de 6Walking with a friend
我们要等绿灯才能过马路。
We need to wait for the green light to cross the street.
Texting why you are slow
等绿灯呢，马上到。
Waiting for the green light, will be there soon.
Professional driver to passenger
请稍等，我们在等绿灯。
Please wait a moment, we are waiting for the green light.
Contexto cultural
In China, traffic culture is a major part of daily life. While 'waiting for a green light' is a universal act, in Chinese urban centers, it represents a moment of rare stillness in a fast-paced environment. Interestingly, Chinese speakers often say 'waiting for the red light' (等红灯) to mean the exact same thing.
The 'Red Light' Logic
Don't be confused if someone says `等红灯` (waiting for the red light). It means the same thing! They are waiting for the red light to *end*.
Not for Business
Avoid using this to mean 'waiting for project approval' like in English. Use `等审批` instead to sound more professional.
En 15 segundos
- Literally means waiting for a traffic signal to change to green.
- Used in daily life while walking, cycling, or driving in cities.
- Usually literal; rarely used as a metaphor for business permissions.
What It Means
等绿灯 is a simple, everyday phrase. It describes that universal moment of standing on a sidewalk or sitting in a car. You are watching the signal change. It is a literal action. There is no hidden poetic meaning here. It is just about traffic safety and patience.
How To Use It
You use it as a standard verb-object phrase. You can say it when you are currently waiting. You can also use it to explain why you are late. Just put it after the subject. For example: 我在等绿灯 (I am waiting for the green light). It works perfectly in the present tense.
When To Use It
Use it when walking with friends in the city. Use it when you are on a voice call while driving. It is great for small talk about city life. If someone asks where you are, it is a valid excuse. 'I am almost there, just 等绿灯!' It feels very natural and grounded.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for metaphorical 'waiting for a chance.' In English, we 'wait for the green light' on a project. In Chinese, 等绿灯 is almost always about actual traffic. If you mean a business approval, use 等批复. Don't use it if the light is already green, obviously! That would be confusing for your driver.
Cultural Background
In big Chinese cities like Shanghai or Beijing, 等绿灯 is a test of patience. You will see huge crowds gathering at intersections. There is even a term 'Chinese-style road crossing.' This is when people cross regardless of the light. By saying you are 等绿灯, you sound like a law-abiding, patient citizen. It shows you follow the rules of the road.
Common Variations
You might hear 等红灯 (waiting for the red light). This sounds weird in English, but it is very common in Chinese. It means the same thing: waiting because the light is currently red. You can also say 闯红灯 (running a red light). But please, don't actually do that! Stick to the green one.
Notas de uso
This is a neutral, everyday collocation. It is used literally across all levels of society, from casual chats to formal driving instructions.
The 'Red Light' Logic
Don't be confused if someone says `等红灯` (waiting for the red light). It means the same thing! They are waiting for the red light to *end*.
Not for Business
Avoid using this to mean 'waiting for project approval' like in English. Use `等审批` instead to sound more professional.
The 'Zhong' Particle
When texting, add `中` (zhōng) to make it `等绿灯中`. This means 'In the middle of waiting for the green light' and sounds very modern.
Ejemplos
6我们要等绿灯才能过马路。
We need to wait for the green light to cross the street.
A standard, helpful reminder for safety.
等绿灯呢，马上到。
Waiting for the green light, will be there soon.
Common shorthand in texts to show you are nearby.
请稍等，我们在等绿灯。
Please wait a moment, we are waiting for the green light.
Polite way to explain a temporary stop.
乖孩子都要等绿灯。
Good children all wait for the green light.
Used to teach social rules and safety.
这个绿灯我要等一辈子吗？
Am I going to wait for this green light for a lifetime?
Exaggeration for comedic effect during a long wait.
很多人在这里等绿灯。
A lot of people are waiting for the green light here.
Simple observation of a scene.
Ponte a prueba
Choose the correct verb for waiting at a light.
我们在路口___绿灯。
The verb `等` (děng) means to wait, which is the correct action for a traffic light.
Complete the sentence to say 'Waiting for the green light'.
别急，还在___。
The phrase `等绿灯` completes the thought of waiting for the signal to change.
🎉 Puntuación: /2
Ayudas visuales
Formality of 等绿灯
Texting a friend while walking.
等绿灯中...
Standard conversation or driving.
我在等绿灯。
Official safety announcements.
请耐心等候绿灯。
Where to use 等绿灯
At a crosswalk
Waiting to walk.
In a taxi
Stuck at an intersection.
On a bike
Waiting with other cyclists.
Safety lesson
Teaching traffic rules.
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasNo, it is almost always literal. It simply refers to waiting for a traffic signal to change.
Only if you are talking about actual traffic. If you mean waiting for a deal to go through, use 等待时机 (waiting for the opportunity).
Yes! In fact, 等红灯 is just as common, if not more common, than 等绿灯.
You can say 绿灯亮了 (The green light is on) or 变绿灯了 (It changed to green).
It is neutral. It is neither polite nor impolite; it's just a factual statement about what you are doing.
Usually, we use it for street traffic lights. For trains, people just say 等车 (waiting for the train).
The opposite would be 闯红灯, which means to illegally run a red light.
Not really, but in text, people might just write 等灯 (waiting for the light) to be extra lazy.
Absolutely. It applies to anyone—pedestrians, drivers, or cyclists—who is stopped at a signal.
Not necessarily, but the context usually suggests a temporary delay or a moment of patience.
Frases relacionadas
等红灯 (Waiting for the red light)
过马路 (To cross the street)
红绿灯 (Traffic light)
交通规则 (Traffic rules)
闯红灯 (To run a red light)
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