在望 (zài wàng) — to be in sight; to be within view; (figurative) to be imminent

Definition

A literary/written verb meaning 'to be in sight' or 'to be imminent', used for a hoped-for goal (e.g. 胜利在望 'victory is in sight'). It is not used for physical everyday visibility — that would be 看见 or 看得见.

verb
to be in sightto be within view(figurative) to be imminent
Easily confused

Examples

  • 在望。
    Nà zuò shān yǐ jīng zài zài wàng le.
    That mountain is already in sight.
  • 在望。
    Shèng lì zài wàng.
    Victory is in sight.
  • 在望。
    Wǒ men de mù biāo yǐ jīng zài wàng.
    Our goal is already in sight.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

在zàibe at
望wàngview

在 (be at) and 望 (view) give the sense of being within sight.

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.

The early form of 在 used 才 for its sound; a second sound part 士 was added later, and that 士 became the 土 seen in 在.

Open 在 →

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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