The Preposition “等”

Here Chinese “等” (děng) works as a preposition, carrying the sense of “等到” (děngdào) — “wait until …”.

“等” introduces a time or a condition.

How it is translated

Depending on the situation: wait until … once … after …

等 + time / condition，……

Meaning: wait until …, and then … or: after …

如果聚餐时有老人，年轻人要等老人坐下后再坐

等 + 老人坐下后 + 再坐 wait + until the elders are seated + then sit

如果 — if 聚餐时 — at a group meal 老人 — elderly person 年轻人 — young people 等老人坐下后 — after the elders have sat down 再坐 — only then sit

Here 老人坐下 comes first — the elders sit, and only then the young.

等我写完作业，再跟你出去玩

Literally: “Wait until I finish my homework, then I’ll go out and play with you.”

等 + 我写完作业，再 + 跟你出去玩 until I finish my homework + then + go out with you

等我 — wait for me / until I … 写完作业 — finish the homework 再 — then / only then 跟你出去玩 — go out with you

等 A，再 B B only after A

等我们到火车站的时候，火车已经开走了

等 + 我们到火车站的时候 by the time we reached the station

火车已经开走了 the train had already left

到火车站 — reach the station 的时候 — when … 已经 — already 开走了 — has driven off

Here “等” marks the arrival of a particular moment.

“等” introduces a time or a condition:

等 + time / condition，…… until … / when … / after …

等老人坐下后再坐

等我写完作业，再跟你出去玩

等我们到火车站的时候……