About
The character "望" originates from the conceptual blend of gazing at the distant moon, with its structure historically combining an element representing the eye alongside the semantic component for moon, later stabilized into a form where "亡" offers phonetic suggestion and "月" retains its lunar association. Initially denoting the physical act of looking afar, its meaning naturally extended into the abstract realm of hope and expectation, born from the metaphorical sense of looking forward to what lies beyond the immediate view. Over time, it further acquired connotations of reputation and prestige, likely stemming from the idea of being seen or recognized by many, and also came to be used in contexts of visiting or paying respects, linking visual attention with social engagement. This progression from a concrete visual action to a range of metaphorical and social applications illustrates the character's integral role in expressing both observation and aspiration within the language.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我望着窗外。
我们希望你快乐。
我仰望星空。
他望了一眼手表。
孩子们望着动物园里的动物。
我们盼望明天会更好。
她失望地离开了房间。
这位科学家享有很高的威望。