Several parts combine into one character.

Phonetic-semantic compound: 彳 (the "step" radical, originally from 行, indicating walking) + 寺 (temple / office, providing phonetic value). The encoded meaning: "to linger on the road" — to wait for someone or to host them. The character carries TWO meanings unified by "lingering at a designated spot": (1) "to wait" — passively staying; (2) "to host / treat" — actively hosting a guest. Identical across 繁體 / 新字体 / 简体.

Mandarin: dài, falling 4th tone (or dāi 1st tone for "stay"). 等待 (děngdài, to wait — formal), 接待 (jiēdài, to receive guests / hospitality), 期待 (qīdài, to anticipate / look forward to), 对待 (duìdài, to treat / handle), 待遇 (dàiyù, treatment / pay), 一会儿 + 待 in casual: 待会儿 (dāihuǐr, "in a little while" — note the 1st tone reading).

Japanese: on-reading タイ (tai) for compounds — 招待 (shōtai, invitation), 期待 (kitai, expectation / anticipation), 待機 (taiki, standby / waiting), 接待 (settai, hospitality / business entertainment — important Japanese corporate culture concept). Kun-reading ま.つ (ma.tsu, to wait) is among the highest-frequency Japanese verbs. 待ってください (matte kudasai, "please wait") is one of the first sentences in any Japanese class. 待合室 (machiaishitsu, waiting room) — every Japanese hospital, train station, and government office has a 待合室.

The Japanese 接待 (settai) carries cultural weight beyond mere "hospitality" — it refers specifically to formal business entertainment, often elaborate dinners with clients, that traditionally lubricate Japanese corporate relationships.

Memory aid: a road-walker resting at a temple — waiting / hosting / lingering.