---
title: "Danwu Meaning: 耽误 (dānwu) Means “to delay”"
description: "耽误 (traditional 耽誤, dānwu) means “to delay; to hold up; to waste (time or a chance)”. Hear its tones, see what 耽 and 误 each mean and a real sentence that uses it."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/danwu"
published: "2026-10-21"
updated: "2026-11-06"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

[What does it mean in Chinese?](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning)

# What does 耽误 mean?

猫头鹰māotóuyīngowl

耽误 dānwu

## to delay; to hold up; to waste (time or a chance)

## Its characters

1. 耽 dān to delay
2. 误 wù to miss (a train, a deadline)

## In a sentence

别耽误时间了，快走吧。 Stop wasting time, let's go.

孔明道：“曹军即日就到，若等十日，必定**耽误**大事。

From [草船借箭 · Borrowing Arrows with Straw Boats](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/borrowing-arrows-with-straw-boats-three-kingdoms-advanced-chinese-13#library-word-186-188)

[More about 耽误](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%80%BD%E8%AF%AF)

## More words with 耽 or 误

- [错误 cuòwù](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/cuowu)
- [误会 wùhuì](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/wuhui)
- [误解 wùjiě](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/wujie)
- [误区 wùqū](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/wuqu)
- [延误 yánwù](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/yanwu)

## Keep 耽误 for Review

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