How do you use 渴望 in a sentence?

You can use 渴望 as a verb directly followed by the object of your longing. For example: 他渴望成功。 (Tā kěwàng chénggōng.) - He yearns for success. 我渴望自由。 (Wǒ kěwàng zìyóu.) - I long for freedom. You can also use it with a clause: 她渴望能见到她的家人。 (Tā kěwàng néng jiàndào tā de jiārén.) - She craves to be able to see her family.

What's a good example of using 渴望 for an abstract idea?

A great example for an abstract idea would be: 人们渴望和平。 (Rénmen kěwàng hépíng.) - People long for peace. 他渴望知识。 (Tā kěwàng zhīshì.) - He craves knowledge.

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B1 verb #2,800 am häufigsten 6 Min. Lesezeit

渴望

Q: What's the difference between 渴望 and 期待 (qīdài)?

渴望 (kěwàng) is a deep, strong longing or craving. 期待 (qīdài) means to look forward to something or to expect something. While both involve a future desire, 期待 has more of an expectation or anticipation component, and usually for something more certain or planned. 渴望 is a raw, intense yearning.

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When you really, really want something, that's 渴望 (kěwàng). It's a strong desire, a deep longing for something you don't have yet. Think of it like yearning for a dream to come true or craving a specific type of food. It's more intense than just wanting something; it's a powerful emotional pull. You'll often hear it used for abstract things like freedom or success, but also for concrete things.

When we say 渴望 (kěwàng), we're talking about a strong, often emotional desire for something. It's more intense than just wanting something; it implies a deep yearning or a profound craving.

Think of it as a powerful internal pull towards an object, an experience, or a state of being that you feel is missing from your life. This word is frequently used to describe a sense of longing that can be almost painful in its intensity, reflecting a significant personal need or aspiration.

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渴望 in 30 Sekunden

B1 verb
to long for
to yearn for
to crave

§ Basic Sentence Structure with 渴望

The word 渴望 (kěwàng) is a verb, and it usually works just like other verbs in Chinese sentences. You'll often see it followed by the thing you long for. Think of it as 'to long for' or 'to yearn for'.

我渴望成功。

Wǒ kěwàng chénggōng. (I long for success.)

他渴望回家。

Tā kěwàng huíjiā. (He yearns to go home.)

§ 渴望 + Noun/Noun Phrase

This is the most straightforward way to use 渴望. You directly state what you're craving or longing for.

Structure: Subject + 渴望 + Noun/Noun Phrase

我们都渴望和平。

Wǒmen dōu kěwàng hépíng. (We all long for peace.)

她渴望得到爱。

Tā kěwàng dédào ài. (She craves love.)

§ 渴望 + Verb/Verb Phrase

You can also use 渴望 with another verb or a verb phrase to express a strong desire to do something.

Structure: Subject + 渴望 + Verb/Verb Phrase

我渴望旅行世界。

Wǒ kěwàng lǚxíng shìjiè. (I yearn to travel the world.)

孩子们渴望玩耍。

Háizi men kěwàng wánshuǎ. (The children crave to play.)

§ Using 渴望 with Adverbs

You can intensify or modify 渴望 with adverbs like 非常 (fēicháng - very), 极其 (jíqí - extremely), or 强烈地 (qiángliè de - strongly).

他非常渴望成功。

Tā fēicháng kěwàng chénggōng. (He very much longs for success.)

我强烈地渴望见到你。

Wǒ qiángliè de kěwàng jiàndào nǐ. (I strongly yearn to see you.)

§ 渴望 as an Adjective (渴望的)

While primarily a verb, you can also use 渴望 with 的 (de) to form an adjective, meaning 'longing,' 'yearning,' or 'craving.'

他眼神里充满了渴望。

Tā yǎnshén lǐ chōngmǎn le kěwàng. (His eyes were full of longing.)

那是一种渴望的眼神。

Nà shì yī zhǒng kěwàng de yǎnshén. (That was a yearning gaze.)

§ Common Phrases with 渴望

Here are some common ways you'll hear or read 渴望 being used:

渴望自由 (kěwàng zìyóu): To long for freedom
渴望知识 (kěwàng zhīshì): To crave knowledge
渴望爱情 (kěwàng àiqíng): To yearn for love
对…的渴望 (duì… de kěwàng): The craving/longing for...

他对成功有强烈的渴望。

Tā duì chénggōng yǒu qiángliè de kěwàng. (He has a strong craving for success.)

§ Prepositions with 渴望

As you saw in the example above, 对 (duì) is the most common 'preposition' you'll find related to 渴望 when 渴望 is used as a noun. However, when 渴望 is a verb, it usually directly takes an object, so you don't typically need a separate preposition like 'for' or 'of' as you might in English.

Key Takeaway: When 渴望 is used as a verb, it functions similarly to 'want' or 'desire' in English, directly taking its object without an extra preposition. When it's used as a noun, '对...的渴望' is the common pattern.

Practicing with these structures will help you naturally incorporate 渴望 into your Chinese conversations and writing. Just remember its core meaning: a strong, deep desire for something or to do something.

§ Similar Words and When to Use 渴望

Alright, let's talk about 渴望 (kěwàng) and some other words that are similar but not quite the same. Understanding the nuances will help you sound more natural in Chinese.

DEFINITION: 渴望 (kěwàng) means to long for, yearn for, or crave something deeply. It implies a strong, often emotional, desire for something that is not yet obtained or is difficult to achieve. It can be used for abstract things like freedom or success, or concrete things like a specific item or person.

Here are some related words and how they differ:

§ 想要 (xiǎngyào) - To Want
This is your most basic word for 'want'. It's very general and can be used for almost anything. It doesn't carry the same emotional weight as 渴望.
我想要一杯咖啡。(Wǒ xiǎngyào yì bēi kāfēi.)
Translation hint: I want a cup of coffee.
💡
Use 想要 for everyday desires. It's safe and always correct when expressing a simple want.
§ 希望 (xīwàng) - To Hope / Hope
希望 means 'to hope' or 'hope'. It expresses a desire for something to happen, often with an implication of uncertainty or a future outcome. While there's desire, it's more about a wish for circumstances to change or for an event to occur.
我希望明天是个好天气。(Wǒ xīwàng míngtiān shì ge hǎo tiānqì.)
Translation hint: I hope tomorrow is good weather.
💡
If you're expressing a wish for something to happen in the future, 希望 is often more appropriate than 渴望.
§ 羡慕 (xiànmù) - To Envy / Admire
羡慕 means to envy or admire something someone else has. It implies a desire to have what another person possesses, but it's not necessarily a deep personal yearning for something that is lacking in your own life.
我羡慕他有那么多旅行的机会。(Wǒ xiànmù tā yǒu nàme duō lǚxíng de jīhuì.)
Translation hint: I envy him for having so many travel opportunities.
💡
Use 羡慕 when you're looking at someone else's good fortune or possessions and wishing you had them too.
§ 追求 (zhuīqiú) - To Pursue / Seek
追求 implies actively seeking or pursuing something, often a goal, ideal, or even a romantic interest. While it involves desire, the focus is more on the action of striving for something rather than just the feeling of longing.
他一生都在追求艺术的真谛。(Tā yīshēng dōu zài zhuīqiú yìshù de zhēndì.)
Translation hint: He spent his life pursuing the true meaning of art.
💡
If the desire is paired with active effort to get it, 追求 is a good choice.

So, when should you really use 渴望? Use it when the desire is deep, emotional, and perhaps even a bit painful due to its intensity or the difficulty of achieving it. It's a powerful word, so don't throw it around casually. It's for those moments when 'want' just isn't strong enough.

他渴望成功，日夜不懈地努力。(Tā kěwàng chénggōng, rìyè bùxiè de nǔlì.)

Translation hint: He yearns for success, working tirelessly day and night.

她渴望自由，摆脱束缚。(Tā kěwàng zìyóu, bǎituō shùfù.)

Translation hint: She craves freedom, to break free from constraints.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"渴望成功 (kěwàng chénggōng)"

Longing for success

他渴望成功，每天都努力学习。 (He longs for success and studies hard every day.)

neutral

"渴望自由 (kěwàng zìyóu)"

Yearning for freedom

这只鸟渴望自由，想飞出笼子。 (This bird yearns for freedom and wants to fly out of its cage.)

neutral

"渴望爱情 (kěwàng àiqíng)"

Longing for love

她渴望爱情，希望找到一个爱她的人。 (She longs for love and hopes to find someone who loves her.)

neutral

"渴望知识 (kěwàng zhīshì)"

Thirst for knowledge

他从小就渴望知识，读了很多书。 (He has thirsted for knowledge since childhood and has read many books.)

neutral

"渴望和平 (kěwàng hépíng)"

Longing for peace

人们都渴望和平，不希望有战争。 (People all long for peace and don't want war.)

neutral

"渴望回家 (kěwàng huíjiā)"

Longing to go home

在异国他乡，他渴望回家。 (In a foreign land, he longs to go home.)

neutral

"渴望得到 (kěwàng dédào)"

Craving to get/obtain

他渴望得到所有人的认可。 (He craves to get everyone's approval.)

neutral

"渴望改变 (kěwàng gǎibiàn)"

Longing for change

她渴望改变现状，开始新的生活。 (She longs for change in the current situation and to start a new life.)

neutral

"渴望成长 (kěwàng chéngzhǎng)"

Yearning for growth

年轻人渴望成长，学习新的技能。 (Young people yearn for growth and learning new skills.)

neutral

"渴望了解 (kěwàng liáojiě)"

Craving to understand

他渴望了解宇宙的奥秘。 (He craves to understand the mysteries of the universe.)

neutral

Tipps

Basic Meaning

渴望 (kěwàng) means to long for, to yearn for, or to crave. It's a strong desire for something.

Usage with Objects

You can use 渴望 with a noun or a phrase to indicate what is desired. For example, 渴望成功 (kěwàng chénggōng) means to crave success.

Expressing Strong Desire

渴望 often implies a deep, emotional desire, more intense than just 'wanting' (想要 xiǎngyào). Think of it as a passionate longing.

Common Collocations

You'll often see 渴望 paired with words like 自由 (zìyóu, freedom), 爱情 (àiqíng, love), or 知识 (zhīshi, knowledge).

Sentence Structure

The basic structure is: Subject + 渴望 + Object. For example: 他渴望回家 (tā kěwàng huíjiā) - He longs to go home.

Past Tense Usage

Even when referring to a past desire, 渴望 itself doesn't change. Context or other words indicate the past. E.g., 他曾经渴望… (tā céngjīng kěwàng…) - He once longed for…

Emotional Nuance

Remember that 渴望 carries a sense of wistfulness or even a touch of sadness if the desired thing is not attainable. It's not just a simple want.

Distinguish from 想要

While 想要 (xiǎngyào) means 'to want,' 渴望 is much stronger. You 想要一杯水 (xiǎngyào yì bēi shuǐ) - want a glass of water, but you 渴望和平 (kěwàng hépíng) - crave peace.

Formal Context

渴望 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it lends a more emphatic and often poetic tone than simpler verbs for 'wanting.' It's great for expressing profound desires.

Practice with Examples

Try forming sentences like '我渴望旅行' (wǒ kěwàng lǚxíng) - I yearn to travel, or '她渴望成功' (tā kěwàng chénggōng) - She craves success. This helps solidify its meaning.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

While both 渴望 and 想 express a desire, 渴望 is a much stronger feeling. 想 can mean 'to think' or 'to want' casually, like '我想喝水' (I want to drink water). 渴望 conveys a deep, intense longing or craving, often for something important or difficult to obtain. Think of it as 'yearning' versus just 'wanting'.

Yes, it can. For example, you might say '我渴望一杯冰水' (Wǒ kěwàng yī bēi bīngshuǐ) if you are extremely thirsty and really, really want a glass of ice water. However, for everyday hunger or thirst, 想 (xiǎng) or 想要 (xiǎngyào) are more common. 渴望 emphasizes a strong, almost desperate craving.

It's generally neutral, but it can lean positive or negative depending on context. If you're longing for success or happiness, it's positive. If you're craving something unhealthy or feel a painful yearning, it can be seen as negative. The word itself just describes the intensity of the desire.

You can use 渴望 as a verb directly followed by the object of your longing. For example:

他渴望成功。 (Tā kěwàng chénggōng.) - He yearns for success.
我渴望自由。 (Wǒ kěwàng zìyóu.) - I long for freedom.

You can also use it with a clause:

她渴望能见到她的家人。 (Tā kěwàng néng jiàndào tā de jiārén.) - She craves to be able to see her family.

While technically possible, 渴望 itself already implies a strong desire, so adding 很 (hěn) is often redundant. It's like saying 'very yearning.' If you want to emphasize it even more, you could use words like 极其 (jíqí) meaning 'extremely,' or just let the context and the word 渴望 speak for itself.

A great example for an abstract idea would be:

人们渴望和平。 (Rénmen kěwàng hépíng.) - People long for peace.
他渴望知识。 (Tā kěwàng zhīshì.) - He craves knowledge.

While not a specific idiom, you often see 渴望 paired with desires for things like 成功 (chénggōng - success), 自由 (zìyóu - freedom), 爱情 (àiqíng - love), or 知识 (zhīshì - knowledge). The strength of the word is its main characteristic.

渴望 (kěwàng) is a deep, strong longing or craving. 期待 (qīdài) means to look forward to something or to expect something. While both involve a future desire, 期待 has more of an expectation or anticipation component, and usually for something more certain or planned. 渴望 is a raw, intense yearning.

渴望 is generally more formal than 想 (xiǎng) or 想要 (xiǎngyào), but it's not overly academic. You'll hear it in everyday speech when expressing a strong, heartfelt desire. It conveys a certain weight and seriousness to the desire.

You could say that 渴望 is the intense feeling behind 'dreaming of something.' If you 'dream of visiting China,' you 渴望访问中国 (kěwàng fǎngwèn Zhōngguó). The dreaming is the imaginative part, and the 渴望 is the deep emotional desire driving that dream.