望女成凤
wàng nǚ chéng fèng
to long for one’s daughter to do great things
Character by character
望wàng
hope
hope
女nǚ
daughter
daughter
成chéng
become
become
凤fèng
phoenix
phoenix
Example
她望女成凤，从女儿三岁起就送她去学舞蹈和钢琴。
She longs for her daughter to shine and has sent her to dance and piano lessons since the age of three.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
The daughter’s half of 望子成龙 (lesson 1-7): the 凤 (phoenix) matches the son’s 龙 (dragon), and the two are often said together. Warm in itself, it is often quoted to criticise parents who push too hard.
Learn this in Lesson 48 · HSK 5–6: 鸡娃与双减 (Education pressure and the tutoring ban)
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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