While 等等 is a functional word, its usage touches upon Chinese communication styles. In its “etc.” sense, 等等 is used frequently because Chinese communication often values brevity and shared understanding. Instead of listing every single item, a speaker will list a few representative examples and use 等等 to signal, “You get the idea.” It assumes the listener can infer the rest from the context, which is a common feature in a high-context culture. In its “wait a moment” sense, it's a direct and efficient conversational tool. Unlike the Western tendency to sometimes use softer phrases like “Could you hold on for just a second?”, a simple 等等 is perfectly normal and not considered rude among peers or in informal situations. It prioritizes clarity and function. However, in more formal or service-oriented settings, a politer term like `稍等 (shāo děng)` might be preferred.
等等 is a high-frequency word used constantly in both spoken and written Chinese.
This is its most common usage. It always comes at the end of a list of two or more items. It's neutral and can be used in any context, from a casual chat about groceries to a formal business report.
This is an imperative, used to get someone to pause. It's primarily used in spoken, informal contexts. Your tone of voice is very important here; it can make the command sound like a friendly “hold on” or an urgent “stop!”