巴不得

bābudé

verb HSK 7-9 #13,605

Meanings

1 to eagerly wish for; to be dying to; can't wait to

Characters

to cling to; to hope for

to obtain; to get

Literally 'clinging but unable to get' - the feeling of desperately wanting something. The desire is so strong that not getting it is painful.

Examples

HSK 1

他巴不得马上放假。

Tā bābudé mǎshàng fàngjià.

He can't wait for the vacation to start right now.

HSK 2

她巴不得早点离开这个地方。

Tā bābudé zǎodiǎn líkāi zhège dìfang.

She's dying to leave this place as soon as possible.

Tips

grammar

巴不得 is always followed by a verb phrase describing what you wish would happen. It's colloquial and carries strong emotion - often impatience or desperation. 恨不得 is similar but stronger, implying frustration that something is impossible.

Stroke Order

巴 bā

不 bù

得 de