xiànmù: 羡慕 - Envy, Admire
Quick Summary
Keywords: xianmu, 羡慕, how to say envy in Chinese, admire in Chinese, xianmu vs jidu, 羡慕意思, Chinese word for admire, envious in Mandarin, positive envy, HSK 4 vocabulary.
Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 羡慕 (xiànmù), which translates to “envy” or “admire.” Unlike the often negative feeling of “envy” in English, `羡慕` is typically a positive and open expression of appreciating someone's success, possessions, or good fortune. This guide covers its meaning, cultural significance, and practical usage, including the crucial difference between `羡慕 (xiànmù)` and the more negative `嫉妒 (jídù)`.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): xiànmù
Part of Speech: Verb
HSK Level: HSK 4
Concise Definition: To envy or admire someone for their qualities, possessions, or good fortune in a generally positive way.
In a Nutshell: `羡慕` is the feeling you get when you see your friend's amazing vacation photos and think, “Wow, that looks incredible! I wish I could do that too.” It's an expression of admiration and longing, not of resentment or ill will. In Chinese culture, it's very common and socially acceptable to openly tell someone you `羡慕` them; it's often taken as a compliment.
Character Breakdown
羡 (xiàn): This character suggests “to covet” or “to desire.” The top part (羊 yáng - sheep) can be seen as representing something valuable or desirable, while the bottom part (㳄, an old form of 涎 xián - saliva) implies drooling or longing for something.
慕 (mù): This character means “to admire” or “to long for.” It contains the heart radical (心 xīn) at the bottom, indicating that this is a feeling or emotion that comes from the heart.
Together, 羡慕 (xiànmù) combines the concepts of “desiring what someone else has” (羡) and “admiring from the heart” (慕). This creates a word that perfectly captures a positive form of envy, focused on appreciation rather than malice.
Cultural Context and Significance
In Western cultures, particularly those influenced by Christian tradition, “envy” is one of the seven deadly sins and carries a heavy negative weight. It implies a secret, resentful feeling towards another's good fortune.
In China, 羡慕 (xiànmù) is almost the opposite. It is an open, social, and generally positive emotion. Saying “我好羡慕你啊!” (Wǒ hǎo xiànmù nǐ a! - “I really envy you!”) is a common way to praise someone and acknowledge their achievement or luck. It functions as a social lubricant that validates the other person's happiness and strengthens the relationship.
This difference highlights a cultural focus on relational harmony. Expressing `羡慕` isn't a confession of a sinful feeling; it's a way of participating in the other person's joy. It says, “I see your good fortune, I recognize it as a good thing, and I admire it.” This positive framing makes it one of the most frequently used emotional words in daily conversation.
Practical Usage in Modern China
`羡慕` is an everyday word used in a wide variety of informal and neutral contexts.
In Conversation: Friends, family, and colleagues frequently express `羡慕` for each other's lives—a new job, a well-behaved child, a new car, or a fun trip. It's a standard way to react to good news.
On Social Media: This is perhaps the most common place to see `羡慕`. Commenting `羡慕了` (xiànmù le - “I'm envious!”) or simply `羡慕` under a friend's post about their achievements, travel, or even a delicious meal is extremely common.
Connotation: The connotation is almost always positive or, at worst, neutral. It rarely implies any negativity. It's a lighthearted way to express that you wish you were in someone else's (often positive) situation.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
我真羡慕你的工作，每天都可以接触这么多有趣的人。
Pinyin: Wǒ zhēn xiànmù nǐ de gōngzuò, měitiān dōu kěyǐ jiēchù zhème duō yǒuqù de rén.
English: I really envy your job; you get to meet so many interesting people every day.
Analysis: A classic and sincere use of `羡慕`. The speaker is complimenting the friend's job by expressing positive envy. `真 (zhēn)` is used here for emphasis.
Example 2:
看到他们的婚纱照，我羡慕极了。
Pinyin: Kàndào tāmen de hūnshāzhào, wǒ xiànmù jí le.
English: Seeing their wedding photos, I was extremely envious.
Analysis: The structure `[adjective] + 极了 (jí le)` means “extremely…” and is a common way to intensify an emotion. Here, the envy is a happy reaction to the couple's joy.
Example 3:
我很羡慕你会说三种语言。
Pinyin: Wǒ hěn xiànmù nǐ huì shuō sān zhǒng yǔyán.
English: I really admire that you can speak three languages.
Analysis: `羡慕` is used here for a skill or ability, not just a possession. It's equivalent to saying “I admire your ability and wish I had it too.”
Example 4:
别羡慕我了，我为了这次成功付出了很多。
Pinyin: Bié xiànmù wǒ le, wǒ wèile zhè cì chénggōng fùchū le hěn duō.
English: Don't envy me; I put in a lot of effort for this success.
Analysis: This shows a common response to being told “I envy you.” The person deflects the compliment by highlighting the hard work involved, a culturally humble response.
Example 5:
他羡慕地看着邻居的新车。
Pinyin: Tā xiànmù de kànzhe línjū de xīn chē.
English: He looked at his neighbor's new car with admiration/envy.
Analysis: The particle `地 (de)` is used here to turn the verb `羡慕` into an adverb describing *how* he is looking (`看着`).
Example 6:
你的生活方式是很多人羡慕的。
Pinyin: Nǐ de shēnghuó fāngshì shì hěn duō rén xiànmù de.
English: Your lifestyle is one that many people admire.
Analysis: This structure, `…是 [someone] 羡慕的`, frames something as “the object of someone's admiration.”
Example 7:
A: 我下个月要去欧洲玩一个月！ (Wǒ xià ge yuè yào qù Ōuzhōu wán yí ge yuè!) - I'm going to Europe for a month!
B: 哇，羡慕了！(Wā, xiànmù le!)
English: B: Wow, I'm so envious!
Analysis: `羡慕了` is a very common, almost reflexive, response on social media or in text messages to someone's good news. The `了 (le)` indicates a change of state—“Now I have become envious.”
Example 8:
我最羡慕的是他们之间那种互相信任的感情。
Pinyin: Wǒ zuì xiànmù de shì tāmen zhījiān nà zhǒng hùxiāng xìnrèn de gǎnqíng.
English: What I admire most is that kind of mutually trusting relationship between them.
Analysis: This shows `羡慕` being used for something intangible and profound, like trust in a relationship. `我最…的是…` (Wǒ zuì…de shì…) is a pattern for “The thing I…most is…”.
Example 9:
与其羡慕别人，不如努力提升自己。
Pinyin: Yǔqí xiànmù biérén, bùrú nǔlì tíshēng zìjǐ.
English: Rather than envying others, it's better to work hard to improve yourself.
Analysis: A common piece of advice. Even in this context, `羡慕` isn't necessarily negative, but it's portrayed as a passive state, less useful than taking action (`努力`).
Example 10:
他只是有点儿羡慕，并没有别的意思。
Pinyin: Tā zhǐshì yǒudiǎnr xiànmù, bìng méiyǒu bié de yìsi.
English: He's just a little envious, he doesn't mean anything else by it.
Analysis: This sentence explicitly clarifies the positive/neutral nature of `羡慕`, distinguishing it from a more malicious feeling. `并没有别的意思` means “there's no other meaning/ulterior motive.”
Nuances and Common Mistakes
The most critical mistake for an English-speaking learner is failing to distinguish 羡慕 (xiànmù) from 嫉妒 (jídù).
Rule of Thumb: If you would say “I admire…” in English, `羡慕` is usually the right choice. If you mean “I'm resentfully jealous of…,” you need `嫉妒`. When in doubt, use `羡慕`, as it is far more common and socially safer.
嫉妒 (jídù) - The direct counterpart to `羡慕`. It means “to be jealous of” or “to envy” in a negative, resentful way.
佩服 (pèifú) - To admire someone for their skills, talent, or moral character. You `佩服` a master pianist for their skill, but you `羡慕` their lifestyle of traveling the world.
崇拜 (chóngbài) - To worship, to idolize. A much stronger form of admiration, usually reserved for celebrities, heroes, or public figures.
向往 (xiàngwǎng) - To yearn for or long for (a place, a state, a lifestyle). It's less about what a specific person has and more about a general desire. E.g., “I yearn for (`向往`) a peaceful country life.”
眼红 (yǎnhóng) - “Red-eyed.” A very colloquial term for being envious. It can be slightly more intense than `羡慕` and sometimes hints at a touch of frustration or jealousy, sitting in the middle ground between `羡慕` and `嫉妒`.
吃醋 (chīcù) - “To eat vinegar.” The specific Chinese term for romantic jealousy (e.g., feeling jealous when your partner talks to someone else). It is not used for envy of possessions or status.