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March 24, 2026
指望zhǐwàng(zhi3wang4)
指望 (zhǐwàng) means to hope for something or to count on someone or something. It is commonly used in contexts where expectations are placed on future outcomes, often implying a sense of reliance or trust in those outcomes.
Frequency#2065DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, placing hope in family and community is significant, often reflected in the use of 指望 in contexts involving familial or social responsibilities, like hoping for children to succeed.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person pointing (指) at a bright future (望) and hoping for the best. The character 指 (to point) resembles a finger, which symbolizes directing your hopes towards something specific.
Meanings of 指望
zhǐwàng(zhi3wang4)
1to hope for sth
2to count on
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About 指望
指望Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2065Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 指望
Podcast: 指望
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AI Study Notes for 指望
Quick Contrast
希望 (xīwàng) vs 指望 (zhǐwàng): use 希望 when expressing a general hope or desire, while 指望 implies a stronger sense of reliance on someone or something to fulfill that hope.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person pointing (指) at a bright future (望) and hoping for the best. The character 指 (to point) resembles a finger, which symbolizes directing your hopes towards something specific.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 指望 with similar expressions like 希望 (xīwàng), which is more about general hope without the reliance aspect. This term is more informal and can be used in both spoken and written contexts, but it's best to avoid it in very formal writing.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 指望 connects well with other words that express desire or expectation. Students should focus on the nuances of dependency and expectation in its usage, particularly in complex sentences.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, placing hope in family and community is significant, often reflected in the use of 指望 in contexts involving familial or social responsibilities, like hoping for children to succeed.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 指望 with 期待 (qīdài), which is more about anticipation. For instance, saying '我指望他会来' (I hope he will come) is correct, but using it as '我期待他会来' indicates a different nuance of waiting with expectation.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 指望
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Grammar Patterns of 指望
指望 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
You cannot expect to like all the people you will work with.
Cultural Notes for 指望
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, placing hope in family and community is significant, often reflected in the use of 指望 in contexts involving familial or social responsibilities, like hoping for children to succeed.
Frequently Asked Questions about 指望
Yes,指望 can express both positive hopes and negative expectations depending on the context.
While you can use 指望 regarding material hopes, it's more common to use it for hopes related to people or situations.
指望 implies reliance on someone or something, while 希望 is a more general term for hope.
