Konichiwa,
I keep hearing/seeing the word 'mate' being used as a command for _stop _or _wait_ in several shows I watch. I have tried to look it up in english/japanese dictionaries but havent found any result. I figure im spelling it wrong, but even looking up wait or stop doesnt return any words that are even close. and I get equally confused when sayaka uses the word to mean 'until then' in: ja mata ne. could someone explain what am i missing?
Arigato gozaimasu
~Dan
mate?

teklis
August 13, 2009

Keekiri
August 13, 2009
From what I know, mata is a reference to time and mate is the te form of matsu, "to wait".
Mate imasu ka? Are you waiting?
Mate kudasi! Please wait!

PlusTheEffect
August 15, 2009
Motte or もって
Is the TE form of the verb Motsu, to wait.

PlusTheEffect
August 15, 2009
[quo]*Quote from * PlusTheEffect
Motte or もって
Is the TE form of the verb Motsu, to wait.[/quo]
Correction. MATSU, is to wait. sorry for the typo. Motsu it to have or hold.
Matte is the TE form. You wont find that in a dictionary, you must use the dictionary form of a verb to find it. Such as, Owatte is the TE form of Owaru. To find the meaning, you need to look up the dictionary form "Owaru"

Sayaka-Matsuura
August 17, 2009
Minnasan Konnichiwa!
:roll: *mata また* which means "again" is an ADVERB.
*mata kuru また くる* :arrow: _"to come again"_
*mata denwa suru また でんわ する* :arrow: _"to call (phone) again"_
__Dictionary form: *matsu まつ* "to wait"__
*matsu まつ* is the plain, dictionary form of the verb for "wait". This form of a verb is used to speak of both present and future events.
__Ta-form (Past-tense): *matta まった* "waited"__
__Te-form & Gentle command: *matte まって* "wait!"__
Why is it called __Te-form__? - Because it always ends in *-te* or *-de*. This form of a verb is generally used in combination with other verbs or helping verbs. The Te-form doesn't have a tense on its own, so tense is determined by other components of the sentence.
_For example:_
1. __Te form + iru__ makes a two-verb combination that expresses an action in progress:
*matte-iru まっている* :arrow: _"am/is/are wait__ing__"_
2. __Te form + kudasai__ makes a two-verb combination that expresses a polite request:
*matte-kudasai まってください* :arrow: _"Please wait."_
ALSO... The Te-form of a verb is often used to ask that the action be done. It is a relatively polite request, suggesting a gentle command.
__Abrupt Command: *mate まて* "you wait!" / "halt!" __
The Te- form of a verb by itself can make a gentle command as stated above. But verbs also have a more abrupt command form.
:idea: For -Ru ending verbs, the final -ru is replaced with -ro.
_For example:_
*taberu たべる* :arrow: *tabero たべろ* _"Eat (it)!"_
*miru みる* :arrow: *miro みろ* _"Watch (it)!"_
:idea: For -U ending verbs, the final -u is replaced with -e.
_For example:_
*matsu まつ* "to wait" :arrow: *mate まて* _"Wait!" "Halt!"_
*motsu もつ* "to hold/carry" :arrow: *mote もて* _"Carry (it)!"_
*kiku きく* "to hear/listen" :arrow: *kike きけ* _"Listen!"_