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事与愿违 (shì yǔ yuàn wéi) — things go contrary to one's wishes; events turn out opposite to what was expected

Definition

A four-character idiom meaning outcomes turned out the opposite of what one wanted or planned. Often follows a 但/却 clause to mark a disappointing contrast with earlier hopes or effort.

idiom
things go contrary to one's wishesevents turn out opposite to what was expected

Examples

  • ，事与愿违。
    Tā nǔ lì zhǔn bèi le hěn jiǔ, jié guǒ què shì yǔ yuàn wéi.
    He prepared hard for a long time, but the result went contrary to his wishes.
  • ，事与愿违，。
    Běn xiǎng bāng máng, méi xiǎng dào shì yǔ yuàn wéi, fǎn ér tiān le má fan.
    I meant to help, but unexpectedly things went contrary to my wishes and I caused more trouble.
  • ，事与愿违，。
    Tóu zī de shí hou tā hěn yǒu xìn xīn, zuì hòu què shì yǔ yuàn wéi, kuī le bù shǎo qián.
    He was very confident when investing, but in the end things went contrary to his wishes and he lost quite a bit of money.

Origin

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

In 事, 又 is a hand and 中 is a flagpole with a drum; holding a flag in hand depicts performing a job.

Open 事 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 與; 与 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 與 is built from 舁 and 牙, and both parts give the sound.

Open 与 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
原
原yuán愿yuàn
Same sound today

愿 places 心 (heart) below 原, which supplies the sound yuán; the 心 part marks the sense of heart or feeling.

Open 愿 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 違; 违 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辶Written in full as辵chuò
Sound part声符shēngfú
韋
韋wéi違wéi
Same sound today

The traditional form 違 pairs 辶, which shows walking, with 韋 to give the sound. The simplified 违 is a later shorthand.

Open 违 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set Phrases

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