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希望 (xī wàng) — to hope; to wish

Definition

希望 is the everyday verb ‘to hope / to wish,’ used for both small wishes and big hopes. It is more common than the more formal 期望, and unlike 愿, it is not limited to blessings or literary phrasing.

verb
to hopeto wish
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 希望。
    Wǒ xī wàng nǐ míng tiān lái.
    I hope you come tomorrow.
  • 希望。
    Tā hěn xī wàng nǐ huí jiā.
    He really hopes you go home.
  • 希望。
    Wǒ xī wàng yǒu hěn duō shí jiān.
    I hope to have a lot of time.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

希xīwish
望wànglook forward

希望 joins 希 (wish) and 望 (look forward), expressing a wish for something to happen.

Characters in this word

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

希 is made from 爻 and 巾, which means cloth. How those parts connect to “hope” is not explained.

Open 希 →

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
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