向往 (xiàng wǎng) — to yearn for, to look forward to | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

向往 (xiàngwǎng) means to yearn for something distant or idealized, often a way of life or future self. Stronger and more literary than 期待; similar in feel to 憧憬 (literary) and 盼望 (hopeful waiting).

verb

to yearn forto look forward to

Examples

向往。
Tā cóng xiǎo jiù xiàng wǎng chéng wéi yì míng kē xué jiā.
He has yearned to become a scientist ever since he was since childhood.
向往。
Tā duì xiàng wǎng de shēng huó chōng mǎn le qī dài.
She is full of anticipation for the life she yearns for.
向往。
Hěn duō rén xiàng wǎng shān lǐ de ān jìng.
Many people yearn for the peace in the mountains.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

向xiàngtoward

往wǎnggo toward

向 and 往 both express moving toward something, together meaning to yearn for.

Characters in this word

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

宀宀miánhouse
口口kǒumouth

向 originally drew 宀 (house) with 口 to show an echo in a place; later it was used for direction.

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

止止zhǐfoot

Sound part声符shēngfú

王

王wáng往wǎng

Same sound today

The form that became 往 paired 止, a foot, with 王 for the sound; a stepping part was later added, and the right side changed.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 6 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Will & Intention

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