翘首以待 (qiáo shǒu yǐ dài) — (idiom) to eagerly await, to look forward to with great anticipation

Definition

A formal, written chengyu meaning 'to eagerly await, looking forward with great anticipation.' Used for a whole group waiting for a major event (a nation, investors, fans), not casual everyday looking-forward-to.

idiom
to eagerly await, to look forward to with great anticipation

Examples

  • 翘首以待，。
    Qiú mí men qiáo shǒu yǐ dài, qī dài qiú duì yíng dé bǐ sài.
    The fans are eagerly awaiting, hoping the team will win the match.
  • 翘首以待。
    Quán guó rén mín qiáo shǒu yǐ dài ào yùn huì de kāi mù.
    The whole nation is eagerly awaiting the opening of the Olympics.
  • 翘首以待。
    Tóu zī zhě qiáo shǒu yǐ dài xīn zhèng cè de chū tái.
    Investors are eagerly awaiting the introduction of the new policy.

Origin

Characters in this word

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 翹; 翘 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
羽羽yǔfeather
Sound part声符shēngfú
堯
堯yáo翹qiáo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 翹 pairs 羽 (feather) with 堯, which gives the sound; this note is about 翹, not the simplified 翘.

Open 翘 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape comes from an old drawing of an animal's head, showing a long mouth and horns; the version with hair became 首.

Open 首 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape came from a drawing of a person carrying something; in 以, part of that person is still visible on the right.

Open 以 →

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
彳彳chì
Sound part声符shēngfú
寺
寺sì待dài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

待 is built from 彳 on the left and 寺 on the right; 彳 is tied to the meaning, and 寺 gives the sound.

Open 待 →

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