A native Korean (고유어, *goyueo*) verb, unrelated to Sino-Korean vocabulary. The root 기다- carries the core sense of remaining in place in anticipation; the suffix -리다 is an older verbal formative now fused into the stem. The word has been stable in this form throughout the modern Korean period.

Waiting — and the patience it implies — carries positive social weight in Korean culture, often tied to the virtue of 인내 (忍耐, *innae*, endurance). A common affectionate phrase is 기다려 줘서 고마워 ("Thank you for waiting for me"), used not just literally but also figuratively when someone has been patient in a relationship. Note: do not confuse 기다리다 with 기대하다 ("to look forward to / expect"), which is a related but distinct concept.