Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 希望 | xīwàng |
| 盼望 | pànwàng |
| 指望 | zhǐwàng |
| 冀望 | jìwàng |
In Mandarin, several words can express 'to hope' depending on the intensity of the emotion or the specific context. 希望 is the standard term for wanting something to happen with the expectation that it might. You can also use it as a noun to mean the belief that something wished for can happen. Other forms like 盼望, 指望 and 冀望 provide different nuances ranging from intense longing to dependency.
What does it mean word for word?
The standard term 希望 is composed of 希, meaning 'to seek' or 'rare' and 望, meaning 'to look into the distance' or 'to hope'.
Which one should you use?
While 希望 is the general term for 'to hope', other forms carry specific nuances. 盼望 implies a stronger sense of longing or eagerly looking forward to something. 指望 often carries the nuance of 'counting on' or 'relying on' someone or something to fulfill an expectation. 冀望 is a literary term used for hope or desire.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When used as a verb, 希望 can be followed directly by a clause, such as a subject and a verb, to express the specific content of the hope.
How do you pronounce it?
xīwàng
Did you know?
- Using 希望 can sometimes sound too demanding or like an order when addressed to a superior. In these cases, speakers often switch to more humble phrasing to avoid sounding presumptuous.
- While 希望 is positive, 指望 can be used sarcastically to mean someone is completely unreliable. For example, saying you cannot 指望 someone implies they are useless.
- The character 希 in 希望 can also mean 'rare' or 'scarce' in other contexts. This creates a poetic layer where 'hope' is linked to something precious and infrequent.
Examples in context
- 绿色代表希望。Green stands for hope.This example shows how to use 希望 as a noun meaning 'hope'.Tatoeba #1430237 by sadhen, translation #1334739 by marcelostockle
- 我希望湯姆輸。I hope Tom loses.This example demonstrates how to use 希望 followed by a clause to express a wish.Tatoeba #4953624 by umidake, translation #4953385 by CK
- 我希望你别死。I hope you don't die.This example illustrates using 希望 to express a desire regarding someone's well-being.Tatoeba #10648736 by GlossaMatik, translation #2510962 by Hybrid
- 我希望你能实现你的梦想。I hope you can fulfill your dreams.
- 我盼望着你的到来。I am hoping for your arrival.
- 希望你能来参加我的生日派对！Hope you can come to my birthday party!
- 期待和你一起度过美好的时光。Looking forward to spending wonderful time with you.
- 189 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Zhìqiáng and Jiāyí are talking about a job interview.
- 俊杰 Junjie你希望面试结果怎么样？Nǐ xīwàng miànshì jiéguǒ zěnmeyàng?How do you hope the interview results turn out?
- 雨婷 Yuting我希望公司能录取我。Wǒ xīwàng gōngsī néng lùrì wǒ.I hope the company hires me.
- 俊杰 Junjie别担心，你一定会成功的。Bié dānxīn, nǐ yīdìng huì chénggōng de.Don't worry, you will definitely succeed.
- 雨婷 Yuting谢谢你的鼓励。Xièxiè nǐ de gǔlì.Thank you for your encouragement.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hope” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
