Hope [for] vs. Expect (a.k.a. a crapload of words containing “待”, “望” and “盼”)

[Demonic_Duck]

I was trying to get the difference between “希望”, “期望” and “期待” straight in my head, but when I tried looking them up in various dictionaries, I found that the English definitions all seem to contain both the words "hope" and "expect", whilst the Chinese definitions all go round in circles which then incorporate a load of other near-synonyms into them (等待、期盼、盼望、祈望、企望、冀望、愿望、指望、渴望、盼[着]、期盼、企盼、祈盼、渴望).

 

So, what's the difference between 希望、期望、期待、等待、期盼、盼望、祈望、企望、冀望、愿望、指望、渴望、盼[着]、期盼、企盼、祈盼 and 渴望?

 

Here's my attempt at a few definitions. I'd be interested to know how close to the mark I am.

 

希望 - to hope for something. No implication that it's expected to happen - maybe it will, maybe it won't. Can also be used as a noun.

期望 - expectations, particularly towards e.g. your children, your students, your employees etc. Normally a noun.

期待 - to hope for something to happen, where there is a high expectation that it will come true.

渴望 - to long for something. Very strong emotion. Can also be used as a noun.

盼望 - to hope for something, without necessarily expecting it to happen. A bit more formal than 希望.

愿望 - desire/wish. Noun.

 

Not sure about the nuances of any of the others. Also, are the characters 期、祈、企 and 冀 basically interchangeable in these words, except for varying levels of formality?

[lechuan]

In case this is useful (from Using Chinese Synonyms by Grace Qiao Chang)

[L-F-J]

期待 is used when telling someone you "look forward" to their arrival, response, etc.. It's like "to wait expectantly", so, "to look forward to".

 

指望 often means to look toward, as in to count on someone, like 指靠, but can also mean to hope for something specific to happen soon, like a farmer hopes for the rain he's counting on for his crops.

 

期盼 is like anticipation; to anticipate; hope and expectation.

 

企盼 is like being anxious for something. 企 can mean to stand on one's tiptoes, if that helps paint the picture.

 

祈盼 includes the word for praying, so it's longing for something more desperately.

 

Hope that helps!

[gaogaozhan]

This is actually very simple.

期 the moon radical 月 indicates time. So you hope something to happen.

祈 is god radical 示（礻）so it's spiritual. You pray something to happen.