俟

To wait for; ranges from a passive state of waiting to active, expectant readiness. In strategic or philosophical contexts, often implies waiting for the opportune moment (時).

Transitive verb: used for waiting for a specific person or the arrival of a particular condition. Temporal conjunction: functions as "wait until," "once," or "as soon as," acting as a trigger for a subsequent action.

Often interchangeable with 待, though 俟 frequently emphasizes waiting for a precise moment or the fulfillment of a specific condition, whereas 待 can be more general or refer to the treatment/serving of another.

Semantic variant: U+7AE2 (伺). In early manuscripts, the distinction between "waiting" and "watching/lurking" may be fluid.

Because of its close link to 伺 (to watch or spy), there may be an implied element of vigilance or predatory intent; consider whether the subject is merely passing time or observing for a gap or opening.