事与愿违

事與願違

shìyǔ-yuànwéi

idiom #18,980

Meanings

Literally: events go against one's wishes

他本来想考第一名，结果事与愿违。

Tā běnlái xiǎng kǎo dìyī míng, jiéguǒ shìyǔ-yuànwéi.

He originally wanted to get first place, but things didn't go as planned.

人生常常事与愿违，不必太在意。

Rénshēng chángcháng shìyǔ-yuànwéi, bùbì tài zàiyì.

Life often doesn't go as we wish -- there's no need to take it too hard.

memory

事 (matter) 与 (and) 愿 (wish) 违 (violate) -- the matter violates one's wishes. Things go against what you hoped for.

事 shì

与 yǔ

愿 yuàn

违 wéi