大概需要等三十分钟
dàgài xūyào děng sānshí fēnzhōng.
The wait is about 30 minutes · trad. 大概需要等三十分鐘
大概需要等三十分钟 (dàgài xūyào děng sānshífēnzhōng) means "the wait is about 30 minutes." It is used to give an honest, approximate waiting time, which helps manage expectations and keeps guests patient.
What does 大概需要等三十分钟 (dàgài xūyào děng sānshí fēnzhōng.) mean?
大概需要等三十分钟 (dàgài xūyào děng sānshí fēnzhōng.) means “the wait is about 30 minutes” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “roughly wait thirty minutes.”
When to use it
Neutral and polite. This phrase is commonly used in service industries like restaurants or clinics to inform customers about expected wait times.
How to pronounce it
Sounds like “DAH-guy DUNG san-SHIH fen-JONG.” The first two syllables 大概 both have falling tones, and 等 is a third tone.
Other ways to say it
- 大概要等多久？dàgài yào děng duōjiǔ?How long do I need to wait (approximately)?
- 请稍等qǐng shāoděngPlease wait a moment
- 大概需要一个小时dàgài xūyào yīgè xiǎoshíIt will take about an hour (approximately)
Examples
请您稍等，大概需要等三十分钟。
qǐng nín shāoděng, dàgài xūyào děng sānshí fēnzhōng.
Please wait a moment, the wait is about 30 minutes.
现在人比较多，大概等三十分钟才能进去。
xiànzài rén bǐjiào duō, dàgài děng sānshí fēnzhōng cái néng jìnqù.
There are more people now, you'll probably have to wait about 30 minutes to get in.
不好意思，大概需要等十五分钟。
bùhǎoyìsi, dàgài xūyào děng shíwǔ fēnzhōng.
Sorry, the wait is about 15 minutes.
Pro tip: Using 大概 (dàgài) is key to giving an estimate rather than a firm commitment, which is helpful for managing customer expectations.
Related phrases
请排队 · Please line up排队的人很多 · There's a long line叫到号请过来 · Please come when your number is called
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