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厚望 (hòu wàng) — great expectations; high hopes

Definition

A formal written noun meaning 'great expectations' — used for hopes held for a person, group, or future, as in 父母对孩子寄予厚望. Far stronger and more literary than everyday 希望.

noun
great expectationshigh hopes

Examples

  • 厚望。
    Fù mǔ duì hái zi yǒu hěn shēn de hòu wàng.
    Parents have great expectations for their children.
  • 厚望。
    Lǎo shī duì wǒ men bào yǒu hěn dà hòu wàng.
    The teacher holds high hopes for us.
  • 厚望。
    Bú yào gū fù dà jiā de hòu wàng.
    Don't disappoint everyone's great expectations.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

厚hòugreat
望wànghope

厚 means great or deep, and 望 means hope, so the word expresses deep expectations.

Characters in this word

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

  • 厂厂chǎngcliff; cave on a cliff
  • 𣆪𣆪𣆪jug

The shape of 厚 puts 𣆪, a jug, beneath 厂, a cliff or cave.

Open 厚 →

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

  • 臣臣chéneye
  • 𡈼𡈼𡈼person standing on the ground

望 originally showed 臣 (eye) beside 𡈼 (person standing on the ground): a person standing up and looking off into the distance. Later 月 was added, and the 臣 part became 亡.

Open 望 →
Appears in
Abstract ConceptsEmotions & Feelings

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