53 expressing desires, needs, preferences, and willingness
53.1 Expressing desires
To express a desire for something to happen, say:
希望 xīwàng ‘to hope’
我希望我们有机会再见。
我希望我們有機會再見。
Wǒ xīwàng wǒmen yǒu jīhuì zài jiàn.
I hope we have the chance to meet again.
要 yào ‘to want’
她要看她母亲。
她要看她母親。
Tā yào kàn tā mǔqīn.
She wants to see her mother.
她要回家。
Tā yào huí jiā.
She wants to go home.
盼望 pànwang ‘to hope for, long for’ (+ VP)
母亲天天盼望哥哥回来。
母親天天盼望哥哥回來。
Mǔqīn tiāntiān pànwàng gēge huí lai.
Mother hopes every day that older brother will come back.
期望 qīwàng ‘to expect’
我期望能早日回国。
我期望能早日回國。
Wǒ qīwàng néng zǎorì huí guó.
I hope I can return to my home country soon.
期望 qīwàng can also be used as a noun:
父母对孩子的期望很大。
父母對孩子的期望很大。
Fùmǔ duì háizi de qīwàng hěn dà.
Parents have great hopes and expectations for their children.
(The expectations of parents regarding their children are very big.)
