可望 (kě wàng) — to be expected (to), can be expected (to)

Definition

可望 (kěwàng) is a formal written expression meaning 'can be expected to' — used in news or official reports to indicate something is likely or hopeful, not guaranteed.

verb
to be expected (to)can be expected (to)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 可望。
    Zhè ge xiàng mù kě wàng zài míng nián wán chéng.
    This project can be expected to be completed next year.
  • 可望。
    Tā de chéng jì kě wàng huì tí gāo.
    His grades can be expected to improve.
  • ，可望。
    Jīng guò nǔ lì, wǒ men kě wàng qǔ dé chéng gōng.
    With effort, we can expect to achieve success.

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.

可kěcan
望wàngexpect

可 adds the idea of possibility to 望, so the meaning is that something can be expected.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
丂
丂kǎo可kě
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

可 pairs 口 (mouth) with 丂 as a sound part; it is tied to air from the mouth, perhaps singing.

Open 可 →

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 →

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