希望 xīwàng — to hope, to wish

Meanings

1. 1

   to hope, to wish

   To hope for an outcome. It is followed by a whole clause — 我希望你能来 — and often concerns what other people or events will do, rather than your own immediate wish.

   verb
2. 2

   hope (the noun)

   noun

Example sentences

• 我希望明天是晴天。Wǒ (third tone, dipping) xīwàng (first tone, high and level) míngtiān (second tone, rising) shì (fourth tone, falling) qíngtiān. (second tone, rising)···

  I hope tomorrow will be a clear day.

• 我希望你能来。/我希望你能來。Wǒ (third tone, dipping) xīwàng (first tone, high and level) nǐ (third tone, dipping) néng (second tone, rising) lái. (second tone, rising)···

  I hope you can come.

Common mistakes

• Not quite我希望喝水。

  Correct我想喝水。

  希望 is for outcomes you hope will come about, usually beyond your own control. A simple wish to do something yourself is 想.

Similar words