热望 (rè wàng) — to ardently wish, to fervently hope

Definition

热望 (rèwàng) is an emphatic, written-style verb meaning 'to ardently wish' — stronger and more literary than everyday 希望, and used more in formal prose than in casual speech.

verb
to ardently wishto fervently hope

Examples

  • 热望。
    Tā rè wàng néng gòu zài cì jiàn dào gù xiāng.
    He ardently hopes to see his hometown again.
  • 热望。
    Rén mín rè wàng zhe hé píng yǔ fán róng.
    The people fervently hope for peace and prosperity.
  • 热望，。
    Tā rè wàng chéng wéi yì míng yī shēng, bāng zhù gèng duō rén.
    She ardently wishes to become a doctor to help more people.

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.

热rèfervent
望wànghope

Fervent hope is heat added to wishing.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 熱; 热 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
灬Written in full as火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
埶
埶yì熱rè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 熱 pairs 埶 with 火 (written as 灬) to show heat, while 埶 gives a sound.

Open 热 →

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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