巴望 (bā wàng) — to eagerly look forward to; to hope for earnestly

Definition

A colloquial verb meaning 'to yearn / hope eagerly' — more intense and emotional than 盼望, which is more neutral and standard. Often used with 着 in ongoing yearning.

verb
to eagerly look forward toto hope for earnestly

Examples

  • 巴望。
    Tā yì zhí bā wàng zhe néng kǎo shàng nà suǒ dà xué.
    He's been eagerly looking forward to getting into that university.
  • 巴望。
    Nǎi nai bā wàng zhe sūn zi zǎo diǎn huí lái guò nián.
    Grandma is eagerly hoping for her grandson to come back for the New Year soon.
  • 巴望，。
    Nǐ bié bā wàng le, jīn tiān kěn dìng bú huì yǒu xiāo xi de.
    Don't keep hoping so eagerly — there definitely won't be any news today.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

巴bālong for
望wànglook/hope

巴 and 望 both point to eager looking forward, so the word means to hope earnestly.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 巴 →

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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