少々お待ちください。 — Please wait a moment. (Workplace · Phone, Formal to Client, JLPT N5)

Gesture & etiquette

Phone — calm professional tone. In person, slight bow (10°) with open palm gesture. If long wait expected, return briefly to update: 'もう少々お待ちください'.

Universal 'please wait' phrase — used on phone, at reception, in shops, at restaurants. '少々' (shoushou, briefly) is more polite than 'ちょっと' (chotto). Reasonable wait is under 30 seconds; longer requires explanation. After making the customer wait, always apologize with 'お待たせいたしました' (sorry to have kept you waiting). The combo (前: 少々お待ちください / 後: お待たせいたしました) is universal service rhythm.