理想 lǐxiǎng — ideal, dream, life ambition
lǐxiǎng (third tone, dipping)li3xiang3
ideal, dream, life ambition
HSK 4· HSK 1–4 (classic)nounadjectiveMeasure word 个
Meanings
ideal, dream, life ambition
理, reason, and 想, to imagine — a picture of the person one hopes to become, reasoned out rather than idly wished for. 希望 covers any hope, however small; 理想 is reserved for the shape of a whole life.
noun
Character breakdown
Example sentences
- 我的理想是当一名医生，帮助更多的人。我的理想是當一名醫生，幫助更多的人。Wǒ (third tone, dipping) de (neutral tone) lǐxiǎng (third tone, dipping) shì (fourth tone, falling) dāng (first tone, high and level) yì (fourth tone, falling) míng (second tone, rising) yīshēng, (first tone, high and level) bāngzhù (first tone, high and level) gèng (fourth tone, falling) duō (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) rén. (second tone, rising)···
My dream is to become a doctor and help more people.
- 为了理想，他努力学习，从不放弃。為了理想，他努力學習，從不放棄。Wèile (fourth tone, falling) lǐxiǎng, (third tone, dipping) tā (first tone, high and level) nǔlì (third tone, dipping) xuéxí, (second tone, rising) cóng (second tone, rising) bú (second tone, rising) fàngqì. (fourth tone, falling)···
For the sake of his dream, he studies hard and never gives up.
Common mistakes
Not quite我的希望是当一名医生。
Correct我的理想是当一名医生。
希望 covers any hope, however small or fleeting — hoping for good weather tomorrow. 理想 is reserved for a life’s ambition, the person one hopes to become. Swapping them shrinks a lifelong dream to the size of a wish for sunshine.