期望

• Pinyin: qī wàng
• Hanzi breakdown: 期 = 其 + 月, period/expect; 望 = 亡 + 月 + 王, to look into distance/hope

Meaning

To expect; to hope; expectation. Looking forward to something with hope.

Can be a verb (期望成功 hope for success) or noun (高期望 high expectations). Often used for parental/societal expectations (父母的期望). Related terms: 期望值 (expected value), 不负众望 (live up to expectations).

Examples

1. 父母对孩子的期望都很高。 Parents have high expectations for their children.
2. 我们期望这个项目能取得成功。 We hope this project can succeed.
3. 她的表现超出了所有人的期望。 Her performance exceeded everyone's expectations.

Usage Guide

Context: aspirations, family, business

Tone: hopeful

Do Say

• 不要给自己太高的期望。(Don't set too high expectations for yourself.)
• 我们期望明天会更好。(We hope tomorrow will be better.)

Don't Say

• 我期望了这本书。(期望 takes events/outcomes as object, not physical items — say 我期待这本书)

Origin & History

期 (qī, period/expect) + 望 (wàng, to look/hope). To look forward with hope.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal