====== wǎndiǎn: 晚点 - To be late, Delayed ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** wǎndiǎn, 晚点, Chinese for delayed, late train China, flight delayed in Chinese, what does wandian mean, Chinese for late, travel in China, 晚点 vs 迟到
  * **Summary:** Learn the essential Chinese term **晚点 (wǎndiǎn)**, which means "to be late" or "delayed." This word is crucial for anyone traveling in China, as it's primarily used to describe when scheduled transportation like a train, flight, or bus is running behind its timetable. This guide will break down its meaning, cultural context, and practical use, and clarify the key difference between **晚点 (wǎndiǎn)** (for events/transport) and **迟到 (chídào)** (for people).
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** wǎndiǎn
  * **Part of Speech:** Verb, Adjective
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 3
  * **Concise Definition:** To be behind schedule; to be delayed (primarily for transportation or scheduled events).
  * **In a Nutshell:** **晚点 (wǎndiǎn)** is the word you'll hear and use constantly when dealing with travel in China. It describes a situation where a scheduled event, most commonly a train or plane, is not on time. It's an objective statement about a timetable being disrupted. Think of it as the system being late, not a person.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **晚 (wǎn):** This character means "late," "evening," or "night." It points to a time that is after the expected or usual point.
  * **点 (diǎn):** This character means "point," "dot," or, in the context of time, "o'clock." It refers to a specific point in time on a schedule.
When combined, **晚点 (wǎndiǎn)** literally translates to a "late point in time." This perfectly captures the meaning of an event happening at a point later than scheduled.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
While not a deep philosophical term, **晚点 (wǎndiǎn)** is culturally significant due to its sheer frequency in daily life. China's massive and heavily used high-speed rail and air travel networks mean that delays are a common, shared experience for millions of people every day. Hearing an announcement that your train or flight will "晚点" is a routine part of modern Chinese life.
The key cultural distinction for a learner lies in how Chinese separates the lateness of an *object/event* from the lateness of a *person*.
  * **晚点 (wǎndiǎn):** Refers to an impersonal, scheduled event being late. The train is delayed. The flight is late. It's a fact about the system. There is no personal fault implied.
  * **迟到 (chídào):** Refers to a person arriving late for an appointment, work, or school. This carries a sense of personal responsibility. If you `迟到`, it's because *you* didn't manage your time well (even if the reason was a train that was `晚点`!).
This separation highlights a focus on the specific source of the lateness. Western culture might use "late" more broadly (e.g., "Sorry, the train was late, so I'm late."). In Chinese, you would use both terms to explain this: "因为火车**晚点**了，所以我**迟到**了" (Yīnwèi huǒchē **wǎndiǎn** le, suǒyǐ wǒ **chídào** le) - "Because the train was delayed, I arrived late."
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**晚点 (wǎndiǎn)** is used in both formal and informal contexts. You will see it on departure boards, hear it in station announcements, and use it in texts to friends.
  * **Transportation:** This is the most common usage. It applies to trains (火车), planes (飞机), buses (公交车), and subways (地铁).
  * **Other Scheduled Events:** Less commonly, it can be used for events like meetings (会议) or performances (演出) that start later than scheduled, though `推迟 (tuīchí)` (to postpone) is also common in these cases.
  * **Connotation:** The word itself is neutral—it's a statement of fact. However, the situation it describes is almost always negative and a source of frustration.
  * **Formality:** It's standard vocabulary, appropriate for formal announcements and casual conversations alike.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 我们去北京的火车**晚点**了。
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen qù Běijīng de huǒchē **wǎndiǎn** le.
    * English: Our train to Beijing is delayed.
    * Analysis: A simple, common statement of fact. This is something you'd text to someone waiting for you.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 不好意思，飞机**晚点**了半个小时。
    * Pinyin: Bù hǎoyìsi, fēijī **wǎndiǎn** le bàn ge xiǎoshí.
    * English: Sorry, the plane was delayed by half an hour.
    * Analysis: Here, `晚点` is followed by a duration of time to specify exactly how late it is. `半个小时` means "half an hour".
  * **Example 3:**
    * 请问，CA1837次航班会**晚点**吗？
    * Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, CA yāo bā sān qī cì hángbān huì **wǎndiǎn** ma?
    * English: Excuse me, will flight CA1837 be delayed?
    * Analysis: A practical question to ask an airline agent. `会...吗?` is a common way to ask about a future possibility.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 由于天气原因，您的航班将**晚点**起飞。
    * Pinyin: Yóuyú tiānqì yuányīn, nín de hángbān jiāng **wǎndiǎn** qǐfēi.
    * English: Due to weather reasons, your flight will take off late.
    * Analysis: This is typical language for a formal airport announcement. `由于 (yóuyú)` means "due to," and `将 (jiāng)` is a formal way to say "will."
  * **Example 5:**
    * 我坐的公交车**晚点**了，所以我可能会迟到。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ zuò de gōngjiāochē **wǎndiǎn** le, suǒyǐ wǒ kěnéng huì chídào.
    * English: The bus I'm on is running late, so I might be late.
    * Analysis: This sentence perfectly illustrates the difference between `晚点` (the bus is delayed) and `迟到` (I will be late).
  * **Example 6:**
    * G5次列车已正点到达，没有**晚点**。
    * Pinyin: G wǔ cì lièchē yǐ zhèngdiǎn dàodá, méiyǒu **wǎndiǎn**.
    * English: Train G5 has arrived on time, it was not delayed.
    * Analysis: This shows the negative form `没有晚点` (was not delayed). The antonym `正点` (on time) is also used.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 今天的会议**晚点**了十分钟才开始。
    * Pinyin: Jīntiān de huìyì **wǎndiǎn** le shí fēnzhōng cái kāishǐ.
    * English: Today's meeting started ten minutes late.
    * Analysis: An example of `晚点` being used for a non-transportation event. The structure `...才开始` emphasizes that it only started *after* the delay.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 我最讨厌**晚点**的火车了！
    * Pinyin: Wǒ zuì tǎoyàn **wǎndiǎn** de huǒchē le!
    * English: I hate delayed trains the most!
    * Analysis: Here, `晚点` functions as an adjective modifying `火车` (train). The `的` particle connects them.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 别担心，高铁很少**晚点**。
    * Pinyin: Bié dānxīn, gāotiě hěn shǎo **wǎndiǎn**.
    * English: Don't worry, the high-speed rail is rarely late.
    * Analysis: A sentence offering reassurance. `很少` means "rarely" or "seldom".
  * **Example 10:**
    * 又是大雾，看来今天的飞机又要**晚点**了。
    * Pinyin: Yòu shì dàwù, kànlái jīntiān de fēijī yòu yào **wǎndiǎn** le.
    * English: It's foggy again; looks like the planes will be delayed again today.
    * Analysis: This sentence expresses weary resignation. `又 (yòu)` is used twice to mean "again," showing this is a recurring problem.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
The most critical mistake for learners is confusing **晚点 (wǎndiǎn)** with **迟到 (chídào)**. They both involve "lateness," but are not interchangeable.
  *   **晚点 (wǎndiǎn):** For scheduled events, services, or transportation being behind schedule. The subject is the train, plane, bus, meeting, etc.
  *   **迟到 (chídào):** For a person arriving late to something. The subject is the person.
**Think of it this way:** An event that is `晚点` can //cause// a person to `迟到`.
**Incorrect Usage:**
  * `我今天上班晚点了。` (Wǒ jīntiān shàngbān wǎndiǎn le.)
  * **Why it's wrong:** The subject is "I." You are a person, not a scheduled service. You cannot `晚点`.
  * **Correct Usage:** `我今天上班迟到了。` (Wǒ jīntiān shàngbān chídào le.) - "I was late for work today."
**Correct Usage showing the difference:**
  * `因为我坐的地铁**晚点**了，所以我开会**迟到**了五分钟。`
  * Pinyin: Yīnwèi wǒ zuò de dìtiě **wǎndiǎn** le, suǒyǐ wǒ kāihuì **chídào** le wǔ fēnzhōng.
  * English: Because the subway I took was delayed, I was five minutes late for the meeting.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[迟到]] (chídào) - To arrive late (for a person). The crucial counterpart to `晚点`.
  * [[延误]] (yánwù) - A more formal synonym for `晚点`, often seen in official written announcements, especially for flights (航班延误 - flight delay).
  * [[准点]] (zhǔndiǎn) - The direct antonym for transportation; on schedule, on time. Also seen as [[准时]] (zhǔnshí).
  * [[推迟]] (tuīchí) - To postpone or put off. This implies a deliberate decision to reschedule, whereas `晚点` is often an unforeseen delay.
  * [[正点]] (zhèngdiǎn) - Another antonym meaning "on time," often used in announcements (e.g., `正点到达` - arrive on time).
  * [[航班]] (hángbān) - Flight number, a noun that is frequently the subject of `晚点`.
  * [[列车]] (lièchē) - Train, another common subject for `晚点`.
  * [[起飞]] (qǐfēi) - To take off (for an airplane). You will often hear about a delayed take-off (`晚点起飞`).
  * [[到达]] (dàodá) - To arrive. You will often hear about a delayed arrival (`晚点到达`).