Meaning
指望 means to place one's hope or expectation on someone or something, or to rely on them for support or help. It carries a sense of dependence and can be used both as a verb (to count on/hope for) and as a noun (hope/expectation). The word often implies that one's situation depends on the outcome.
Usage
指望 is commonly used when expressing reliance on others or hoping for a particular outcome, often in situations where one feels somewhat helpless or dependent. It frequently appears in negative constructions like 别指望 (don't count on) or 没指望 (no hope). The tone can range from neutral to slightly pessimistic, especially when discussing unmet expectations.
Examples
- 01你别指望他会帮忙，他自己都忙不过来。, .Don't count on him to help; he's too busy with his own things.
- 02我们现在只能指望天气好转了。.Now we can only hope for the weather to improve.
Characters
Common collocations
- 指望某人to count on someone
- 别指望don't count on, don't expect
- 没指望no hope, hopeless
- 指望不上can't count on, unreliable
Antonyms
Origin
The compound combines 指 (to point/indicate a direction) and 望 (to gaze toward/hope for), creating the meaning of pointing one's hopes or expectations toward something or someone.