Hope in Chinese
The Chinese word for hope is 希望 (xī wàng). The everyday word for hope; bright and optimistic.
xī wàng
Hope
What 希望 means.
希望 is the everyday word for hope and for wishing, as in 我希望, “I hope”. 望 shows someone gazing into the distance, which gives the word its sense of looking forward.
- 希
- hope
- 望
- to look toward
Simplified and traditional
希望
希望
希望 is written the same way in simplified and traditional Chinese, so every Chinese reader recognises it.
About hope in Chinese
How do you write hope in Chinese?
Hope is 希望 in Chinese, pronounced xī wàng. Hope 希 means “hope”, 望 means “to look toward”.
How do you pronounce 希望?
Say xī (first tone, high and level), wàng (fourth tone, falling). Mandarin tones change meaning, so it is worth listening to a native speaker once.
Is 希望 different in traditional Chinese?
No. 希望 is written the same way in simplified and traditional Chinese.
Is 希望 a good Chinese tattoo?
Yes, it is a real, everyday Chinese word rather than a machine translation, so Chinese readers will understand it. Keep the characters in their order, top to bottom or left to right, and never mirrored. Choose a readable style such as Kaishu, bring a clean reference to your artist, and show it to a fluent reader before your appointment.