====== qīdài: 期待 - To Expect, To Look Forward To, Anticipation ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  *   **Keywords:** qidai, 期待, Chinese word for expect, look forward to in Chinese, anticipate in Chinese, Chinese hope, meaning of qidai, how to use qidai, Chinese emotion words, HSK 4 vocabulary
  *   **Summary:** Discover the meaning of **期待 (qīdài)**, a common Chinese word that translates to "to look forward to" or "to expect." This page explores how `期待` is more than a simple verb; it's a feeling of hopeful anticipation for a positive outcome. Learn how to use `qidai` correctly in daily conversation, emails, and social media, understand its deep cultural significance in China, especially regarding family hopes, and see how it differs from the English word "expect."
===== Core Meaning =====
  *   **Pinyin (with tone marks):** qīdài
  *   **Part of Speech:** Verb / Noun
  *   **HSK Level:** HSK 4
  *   **Concise Definition:** To look forward to or expect something, typically with a sense of hope and positive anticipation.
  *   **In a Nutshell:** `期待` is the warm, excited feeling you get when waiting for something good to happen. Think of the night before a vacation, waiting for a friend to arrive at the airport, or counting down the days to a new movie release. While it can mean "to expect," it's almost never used for negative or neutral predictions. It's an emotional word, blending hope and waiting into one.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  *   **期 (qī):** This character relates to a "period of time," a "phase," or a "scheduled date." You see it in words like `日期 (rìqī)` - date, and `学期 (xuéqī)` - school term/semester. It sets the stage for something happening in the future.
  *   **待 (dài):** This character means "to wait" or "to treat." In this context, it clearly means "to wait," as in the word `等待 (děngdài)` - to wait.
The combination of `期 (qī)` and `待 (dài)` literally means "to wait for a specific time/period." This paints a perfect picture of the word's meaning: not just waiting, but waiting for a particular, anticipated event in the future.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
In Chinese culture, `期待` carries a weight that the English "look forward to" often lacks. It is deeply connected to collective hopes and interpersonal responsibilities.
A powerful example is the concept of parental expectations. Chinese parents often place immense `期待` on their children. A sentence like, `父母对孩子有很高的期待 (Fùmǔ duì háizi yǒu hěn gāo de qīdài)`, means "Parents have high expectations for their children." This is not just a passive hope; it's a driving force in the family, a blend of love, sacrifice, and a deep desire for the child to succeed and bring honor to the family. This contrasts with some Western cultural ideals that may place a higher value on a child discovering their "own path," separate from parental expectations.
This `期待` isn't a burden in all contexts, but it signifies a deep emotional investment. It reflects a cultural value where individual success is often intertwined with family and community pride.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
`期待` is a versatile and common word used in various modern contexts.
**Expressing Excitement for Events:**
This is the most direct usage. You can `期待` a holiday, a party, a trip, or a concert.
  *   `我很期待夏天的到来。` (Wǒ hěn qīdài xiàtiān de dàolái.) - I'm really looking forward to summer's arrival.
**Polite and Professional Communication:**
In emails and messages, `期待您的回复 (qīdài nín de huífù)` is a very common and polite way to say "I look forward to your reply." It's softer and warmer than just saying `请回复 (qǐng huífù)` (Please reply).
**Expressing Hope in People:**
This is where the "expectation" meaning is strongest. It's often used by teachers, bosses, or parents.
  *   `老板很期待你这次的表现。` (Lǎobǎn hěn qīdài nǐ zhè cì de biǎoxiàn.) - The boss is really looking forward to (has high expectations for) your performance this time.
**As a Noun for "Anticipation":**
`期待` can also function as a noun.
  *   `他的眼神里充满了期待。` (Tā de yǎnshén lǐ chōngmǎnle qīdài.) - His eyes were filled with anticipation.
===== Example Sentences =====
**Example 1:**
我非常**期待**即将到来的旅行。
Pinyin: Wǒ fēicháng **qīdài** jíjiāng dàolái de lǚxíng.
English: I am really looking forward to the upcoming trip.
Analysis: This is the most common, straightforward use of `期待` to express positive excitement for a future event.
**Example 2:**
我们都**期待**你的好消息。
Pinyin: Wǒmen dōu **qīdài** nǐ de hǎo xiāoxi.
English: We are all looking forward to your good news.
Analysis: Here, `期待` expresses a shared, hopeful anticipation for a positive outcome for someone else.
**Example 3:**
**期待**您的回复。
Pinyin: **Qīdài** nín de huífù.
English: I look forward to your reply.
Analysis: A standard, polite, and warm closing for emails or formal messages. `您 (nín)` makes it respectful.
**Example 4:**
不要对他有太高的**期待**，他还是个新手。
Pinyin: Búyào duì tā yǒu tài gāo de **qīdài**, tā háishì ge xīnshǒu.
English: Don't have overly high expectations for him; he's still a novice.
Analysis: This shows `期待` used as a noun ("expectations") and in a negative construction to manage those expectations.
**Example 5:**
这部电影我**期待**了很久！
Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng wǒ **qīdài** le hěn jiǔ!
English: I've been looking forward to this movie for a long time!
Analysis: The use of `了 (le)` and `很久 (hěn jiǔ)` emphasizes that the feeling of anticipation has been ongoing.
**Example 6:**
看到孩子们充满**期待**的目光，老师笑了。
Pinyin: Kàndào háizimen chōngmǎn **qīdài** de mùguāng, lǎoshī xiào le.
English: Seeing the children's gazes full of anticipation, the teacher smiled.
Analysis: A perfect example of `期待` used as a noun to mean the feeling or look of "anticipation."
**Example 7:**
我们**期待**新产品能获得市场的认可。
Pinyin: Wǒmen **qīdài** xīn chǎnpǐn néng huòdé shìchǎng de rènkě.
English: We expect/hope that the new product will gain market approval.
Analysis: A common usage in a business context, expressing a strong hope for a successful outcome.
**Example 8:**
他对未来充满了**期待**和梦想。
Pinyin: Tā duì wèilái chōngmǎnle **qīdài** hé mèngxiǎng.
English: He is full of anticipation and dreams for the future.
Analysis: This shows `期待` paired with `梦想 (mèngxiǎng)` (dreams) to describe a person's optimistic outlook.
**Example 9:**
你最**期待**今年的哪个节日？
Pinyin: Nǐ zuì **qīdài** jīnnián de nǎge jiérì?
English: Which holiday this year are you looking forward to the most?
Analysis: A simple question using `期待` to ask about someone's preferences and excitement.
**Example 10:**
结果令人失望，完全没有达到我们的**期待**。
Pinyin: Jiéguǒ lìng rén shīwàng, wánquán méiyǒu dádào wǒmen de **qīdài**.
English: The result was disappointing; it completely failed to meet our expectations.
Analysis: This sentence shows the consequence of unfulfilled `期待` (expectations), linking it to its antonym `失望 (shīwàng)` (disappointment).
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
**1. `期待` (qīdài) vs. English "Expect":**
This is the biggest pitfall for learners. In English, "expect" can be neutral or negative. You can "expect traffic to be bad" or "expect the meeting to be boring." You **cannot** use `期待` for this. `期待` implies you **want** the thing to happen. For neutral predictions, use words like `预计 (yùjì)` or `估计 (gūjì)`.
  *   **Incorrect:** 我期待今天会堵车。(Wǒ qīdài jīntiān huì dǔchē.) - //You sound happy about the traffic jam.//
  *   **Correct:** 我估计今天会堵车。(Wǒ gūjì jīntiān huì dǔchē.) - I estimate/reckon there will be a traffic jam today.
**2. `期待` (qīdài) vs. `等待` (děngdài):**
  *   **等待 (děngdài):** Simply means "to wait." It's a neutral physical or temporal act. You `等待` a bus.
  *   **期待 (qīdài):** Means "to wait with hope." It's an emotional state. You `期待` your friend who is arriving on the bus.
You can `等待` for something you don't want, but you can only `期待` something you do want.
**3. Overusing `期待` for Simple Hopes:**
While `期待` means to hope for something, for general or less certain wishes, `希望 (xīwàng)` (to hope) is often more natural. `期待` works best for specific, often scheduled, future events or outcomes.
  *   **A bit dramatic:** 我期待世界和平。(Wǒ qīdài shìjiè hépíng.) - I anticipate world peace.
  *   **More natural:** 我希望世界和平。(Wǒ xīwàng shìjiè hépíng.) - I hope for world peace.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  *   [[希望]] (xīwàng) - To hope. A more general-purpose word for wanting something to happen. `期待` is often for more concrete or scheduled events.
  *   [[盼望]] (pànwàng) - To long for; to look forward to eagerly. This is a more emotional and intense version of `期待`.
  *   [[等待]] (děngdài) - To wait. The neutral action of waiting, without the emotional anticipation of `期待`.
  *   [[失望]] (shīwàng) - Disappointed; disappointment. The direct antonym of `期待`, literally "to lose (失) hope/expectation (望)."
  *   [[期望]] (qīwàng) - Expectation; hope. Very close to `期待`, but often used more formally or as a noun to describe the standards or hopes placed upon a person (e.g., `父母的期望` - parental expectations).
  *   [[预计]] (yùjì) - To predict, to forecast, to estimate. The correct word for neutral or data-based "expectations," like weather or financial forecasts.
  *   [[指望]] (zhǐwàng) - To count on, to look to (for help). Implies a level of dependence on someone or something to come through. Can be used negatively if the thing being relied upon is not dependable.