但愿…
let us hope; may …; if only
Structure
但愿 希望发生的事
What it means
Let us hope; may …; if only. It wishes for something outside your control, often with a hint of doubt that it will come true.
How it is built
但愿 + what you hope will happen, usually with no subject before it: 但愿明天别下雨 (let us hope it does not rain tomorrow). Set reply: 但愿如此 (let us hope so).
When to use it
More heartfelt than 希望, with a literary echo of 苏轼’s 但愿人长久 (6-3). Where 希望 can state any wish, 但愿 is for outcomes you can only hope for.
Watch out
Do not use it for your own plans: ✗但愿我明天去买菜 ✓我打算明天去买菜.
Examples
但愿人长久，千里共婵娟。
May we all live long and, a thousand li apart, share this lovely moon.
但愿明天别下雨，不然运动会又得推迟。
Let us hope it does not rain tomorrow, or the sports day will be put off again.
“他应该不会生气吧？”“但愿如此。”
“He won’t be angry, will he?” “Let’s hope not.”
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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