qīpàn: 期盼 - To Eagerly Await, To Look Forward To, Hopeful Expectation
Quick Summary
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Summary: Learn the Chinese word 期盼 (qīpàn), which means to eagerly await or look forward to something with a deep sense of hope. This guide breaks down its meaning, cultural context, and practical use in modern China, contrasting it with similar words like 期待 (qīdài). Discover how 期盼 (qīpàn) expresses a heartfelt, often patient, and profound sense of hopeful expectation, complete with example sentences for beginner learners.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): qīpàn
Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
HSK Level: HSK 5
Concise Definition: To anticipate or look forward to something with eagerness and hope.
In a Nutshell: 期盼 (qīpàn) is more than just “expecting” something. It's a deep, heartfelt looking forward to an event or outcome, tinged with a sense of longing and hope. Think of a child eagerly awaiting a holiday, a nation hoping for a brighter future, or a family anticipating the return of a loved one. It carries an emotional weight that “expect” in English often lacks, implying a patient, earnest wait for something good.
Character Breakdown
期 (qī): This character relates to a period of time, a “term,” or a “date.” You see it in words like 日期 (rìqī - date) and 学期 (xuéqī - school term). In 期盼, it contributes the idea of waiting for a specific time or period to arrive.
盼 (pàn): This is a beautifully visual character. It's composed of 目 (mù - eye) and 分 (fēn - to separate). You can imagine it as your eyes “separating” the distance, looking far away for something to appear. It means “to look,” “to hope for,” or “to long for.”
Together: 期盼 (qīpàn) literally means “to look for a period of time.” This perfectly combines the idea of waiting for a future date (期) with the emotional, visual act of looking and longing for it (盼). It creates a powerful word for hopeful, earnest anticipation.
Cultural Context and Significance
In Chinese culture, which often values patience, perseverance, and long-term planning, 期盼 (qīpàn) holds a special significance. It's not about impatient wanting, but about a deep, enduring hope that is held over time. It can be a very personal emotion—the hope of a family for their child's success—or a grand, collective one, like the nation's 期盼 for prosperity and peace.
Comparison to a Western Concept: In English, we might say “I'm looking forward to the vacation.” This is usually light and expresses simple excitement. 期盼 is much deeper. It's closer to the feeling in the phrase “hopeful expectation” or the German “Sehnsucht” (a deep longing). The Western concept of “instant gratification” stands in contrast to the patient, sometimes years-long '期盼' that is valued in many traditional Chinese contexts. The English word “expect” can even be demanding (“I expect you to be on time”), a meaning completely absent from the heartfelt hope of 期盼.
Practical Usage in Modern China
Formality: 期盼 is more formal and literary than its common cousin 期待 (qīdài). While you'll see it frequently in writing, speeches, and news headlines, it's also used in conversation to express very sincere, deep feelings.
Connotation: It is almost always positive and filled with a sense of genuine hope and longing.
Common Contexts:
Personal and Family: Expressing the longing for a family reunion or the return of a loved one who is far away.
Formal Settings: A CEO might express their 期盼 for the company's future. A political leader might speak of the people's 期盼 for a better life.
Literature and Media: Often used in song lyrics, poems, and book titles to convey a strong sense of yearning and hope.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
父母们期盼孩子们能有美好的未来。
Pinyin: Fùmǔmen qīpàn háizimen néng yǒu měihǎo de wèilái.
English: Parents eagerly hope that their children can have a bright future.
Analysis: This shows a deep, long-term hope, a core emotion in parenting. It's a perfect use of 期盼.
Example 2:
我们期盼着再次相聚的日子。
Pinyin: Wǒmen qīpàn zhe zàicì xiāngjù de rìzi.
English: We are looking forward with longing to the day we can meet again.
Analysis: This sentence is full of emotion, perfect for people in a long-distance relationship or friends who live far apart. The 着 (zhe) indicates the continuing state of “looking forward.”
Example 3:
他的眼神里充满了期盼。
Pinyin: Tā de yǎnshén lǐ chōngmǎn le qīpàn.
English: His eyes were full of hopeful expectation.
Analysis: Here, 期盼 is used as a noun. This is a common and very descriptive usage, often seen in literature.
Example 4:
全国人民都期盼着国家的繁荣富强。
Pinyin: Quánguó rénmín dōu qīpàn zhe guójiā de fánróng fùqiáng.
English: The people of the whole country are eagerly awaiting the nation's prosperity and strength.
Analysis: This demonstrates the formal, large-scale use of the word, expressing a collective national hope.
Example 5:
粉丝们期盼已久的演唱会终于要开始了。
Pinyin: Fěnsīmen qīpàn yǐ jiǔ de yǎnchànghuì zhōngyú yào kāishǐ le.
English: The concert that the fans had been eagerly awaiting for a long time is finally about to start.
Analysis: The structure “期盼已久 (qīpàn yǐ jiǔ)” is very common, meaning “long-awaited.”
English: I'm really hoping for spring to arrive soon so we can go for an outing.
Analysis: While a bit poetic, this usage is perfectly fine for expressing a strong personal desire for something pleasant.
Example 7:
在漫长的等待中，她唯一的支撑就是对未来的期盼。
Pinyin: Zài màncháng de děngdài zhōng, tā wéiyī de zhīchēng jiùshì duì wèilái de qīpàn.
English: During the long wait, her only support was her hope for the future.
Analysis: Another great example of 期盼 as a noun, highlighting its role as a source of strength and motivation.
Example 8:
他焦急地期盼着面试的结果。
Pinyin: Tā jiāojí de qīpàn zhe miànshì de jiéguǒ.
English: He is anxiously and hopefully awaiting the result of the interview.
Analysis: This sentence pairs “anxiously” (焦急地) with 期盼, showing that the hopeful waiting isn't always calm.
Example 9:
我期盼您的回复。
Pinyin: Wǒ qīpàn nín de huífù.
English: I eagerly await your reply.
Analysis: This is a very polite and formal way to end a letter or email. It's much warmer and more sincere than simply saying “I'm waiting for your reply.”
Example 10:
我们期盼世界和平。
Pinyin: Wǒmen qīpàn shìjiè hépíng.
English: We hope for world peace.
Analysis: This expresses a grand, profound, and somewhat distant hope, making 期盼 the ideal word choice over more mundane alternatives.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
期盼 (qīpàn) vs. 期待 (qīdài): This is the most common point of confusion for learners.
期待 (qīdài): The general, all-purpose word for “to look forward to” or “anticipate.” Use it for concrete, upcoming events. It's neutral to positive.
Correct: 我很期待这个周末。(Wǒ hěn qīdài zhège zhōumò.) - I'm looking forward to this weekend.
Incorrect/Overly Dramatic: 我很期盼这个周末。 (This sounds like you've been desperately longing for this specific weekend for ages.)
期盼 (qīpàn): Deeper, more emotional, more longing. Use it for things you hope for with all your heart, which are often less certain or further in the future.
Correct: 他期盼着能与失散多年的家人团聚。(Tā qīpàn zhe néng yǔ shīsàn duōnián de jiārén tuánjù.) - He longs to reunite with his family members from whom he's been separated for many years.
“False Friend”: Expect: Do not use 期盼 to mean “expect” in the sense of a requirement or a logical assumption.
Why it's wrong: This sounds bizarre, like “I long for you to be on time with deep emotional hope.” You should use 希望 (xīwàng - to hope) for a soft request or 要求 (yāoqiú - to require) for a demand.
Correct: 我希望你准时到。(Wǒ xīwàng nǐ zhǔnshí dào.)
Related Terms and Concepts
期待 (qīdài): The most common synonym. A more general term for “to look forward to” or “anticipate.” Less emotional than 期盼.
希望 (xīwàng): To hope; a hope. A fundamental emotion that is a core component of 期盼, but without the “waiting” or “looking forward” aspect.
盼望 (pànwàng): To long for; to look forward to. Very similar to 期盼 and often interchangeable. It perhaps emphasizes the “looking” (望 - wàng) aspect even more.
渴望 (kěwàng): To thirst for; to yearn for. This implies a stronger, almost desperate desire for something you lack, like a craving.
期望 (qīwàng): Expectation; hope. Often refers to the hopes or expectations others (like parents or teachers) have for you. It carries a sense of a standard to be met.
等待 (děngdài): To wait. A completely neutral term for the act of waiting, lacking the emotional hopefulness of 期盼.
憧憬 (chōngjǐng): To yearn for; to look forward to (a future vision). Specifically used when you are imagining and longing for a beautiful, often idealized, future.