待機時間
エレベーターの待機時間が長すぎる。
The waiting time for the elevator is too long.
The period during which a person or system remains ready but inactive while waiting for an event, task, or response.
システムの待機時間を短縮するために最適化を行った。
We optimized the system to reduce waiting time.
待機時間が長いと顧客満足度が下がる。
Long waiting times reduce customer satisfaction.
In computing or electronics, the duration a device spends in standby mode before activation.
待機時間を30秒に設定した。
The standby time was set to 30 seconds.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguish from '滞留時間'
While both refer to waiting periods, 滞留時間 (tairyū jikan) often implies a more passive or enforced delay (e.g., traffic congestion), whereas 待機時間 emphasizes readiness or preparedness during the wait.
Gold Rule
Context matters
Use 待機時間 for periods where the subject is actively prepared to act (e.g., a doctor on standby), but use 滞留時間 for unavoidable delays (e.g., a delayed flight).
Word Origin
Composed of 待機 (taiki, 'standby/waiting') + 時間 (jikan, 'time'). 待機 is a Sino-Japanese compound meaning 'to stand by' or 'to wait in readiness,' derived from Chinese 待機 (dàijī). 時間 is a Sino-Japanese term for 'time,' also from Chinese 時間 (shíjiān).
Usage Notes
Commonly used in both everyday contexts (e.g., waiting for service) and technical fields (e.g., computing, manufacturing). In business, it often refers to idle time between tasks or processes.