望穿秋水
wàng chuān qiū shuǐ
to wait and watch anxiously for someone
Character by character
望wàng
gaze
gaze
穿chuān
through
through
秋qiū
autumn
autumn
水shuǐ
waters
waters
Example
母亲望穿秋水，终于等到儿子回家过年。
His mother had watched and waited so long, and at last her son came home for New Year.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
秋水, clear autumn water, means bright eyes: you gaze until your eyes wear through. Made famous by the Yuan play 《西厢记》. Literary, and often a little playful today: 等你的消息，我都望穿秋水了.
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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