巴不得
to be only too eager to; cannot wait to
Structure
巴不得 动词短语／小句
What it means
To be only too eager to; cannot wait to. It wishes eagerly for something that can really happen.
How it is built
巴不得 + verb phrase or whole clause: 妈妈巴不得她明天就回来 (her mother would love her to come home tomorrow). It can also stand alone at the end: 我巴不得呢！ (I’d like nothing better!)
When to use it
Colloquial. 恨不得 (3-12) is stronger and is for wishes you cannot or should not act on, often exaggerated: 恨不得长出翅膀飞回家.
Watch out
恨不得 cannot stand alone: ✗我恨不得呢 ✓我巴不得呢. Do not confuse either with 舍不得 (loath to part with) or 怪不得 (no wonder).
Examples
汪伦巴不得李白多住几天。
Wang Lun would have loved Li Bai to stay a few more days.
女儿出国三年了，妈妈巴不得她明天就回来。
Her daughter has been abroad for three years, and her mother would love her to come home tomorrow.
“你真肯来帮忙？”“我巴不得呢！”
“You will really come and help?” “I’d like nothing better!”
Learn this in Lesson 228 · HSK 9+: 明月与离别 (The moon and parting in classical poetry)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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