跃跃欲试 (yuè yuè yù shì) — (idiom) to be eager to have a try; to itch to h…

Definition

Idiom for being 'itching to have a go' — eager and ready to try something, usually a new challenge or activity.

idiom

to be eager to have a tryto itch to have a go

Examples

，跃跃欲试。
Kàn dào xīn yóu xì, tā yuè yuè yù shì.
Seeing the new game, he was eager to try it.
跃跃欲试，。
Tóng xué men dōu yuè yuè yù shì, zhǔn bèi cān jiā bǐ sài.
The classmates were all eager to try, preparing to join the competition.
跃跃欲试，。
Wǒ zǎo jiù yuè yuè yù shì le, jīn tiān zhōng yú yǒu jī huì.
I've been itching to try for a long time; today I finally have the chance.

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 躍; 跃 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

足足zúfoot

Sound part声符shēngfú

翟

翟zhái躍yuè

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 躍 pairs 足 (foot) with 翟, which gives the pronunciation; the simplified 跃 is a later abbreviation, so its parts are not the original components.

Open 跃 →

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 躍; 跃 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

足足zúfoot

Sound part声符shēngfú

翟

翟zhái躍yuè

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 躍 pairs 足 (foot) with 翟, which gives the pronunciation; the simplified 跃 is a later abbreviation, so its parts are not the original components.

Open 跃 →

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

谷欠欲

Meaning part形符xíngfú

欠欠qiàn

Sound part声符shēngfú

谷

谷gǔ欲yù

Same sound today

欲 is made of 谷, which supplies the sound, and 欠, which relates to the meaning.

Open 欲 →

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