Meanings of 羡慕
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Podcast: 羡慕
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AI Study Notes for 羡慕
嫉妒 (jí dù) — use 羡慕 when expressing positive admiration for someone else's success, while 嫉妒 conveys a more negative feeling of resentment towards their good fortune.
Be cautious not to confuse 羡慕 with 嫉妒 (ji2 du4), which means jealousy with a more negative connotation. This word is typically used in both formal and informal contexts but leans more towards informal when discussing personal feelings. A common collocation is 羡慕别人 (to envy others).
As an HSK Level 4 word, 羡慕 connects well with other emotion-related vocabulary. Students should focus on using it in sentences that express feelings about achievements, such as 羡慕他的成功 (envy his success), to practice context and structure.
Learners often confuse 羡慕 with 嫉妒 (jealousy), leading to misunderstandings in emotional context. For example, saying '我嫉妒他的成功' (I envy his success) should be corrected to '我羡慕他的成功' to convey the intended admiration.
Pronunciation of 羡慕
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Component Characters
How to say to envy in Chinese
“to envy” in Chinese is羡慕
羡慕 (xian4 mu4) means to feel envy or admiration towards someone else's good fortune or qualities. It is commonly used in contexts where one appreciates another person's achievements or possessions while also feeling a desire for them. The nuance often involves a positive admiration, rather than a negative jealousy.
When to use 羡慕
Be cautious not to confuse 羡慕 with 嫉妒 (ji2 du4), which means jealousy with a more negative connotation. This word is typically used in both formal and informal contexts but leans more towards informal when discussing personal feelings. A common collocation is 羡慕别人 (to envy others).
羡慕 or something close to it
嫉妒 (jí dù) — use 羡慕 when expressing positive admiration for someone else's success, while 嫉妒 conveys a more negative feeling of resentment towards their good fortune.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 羡慕 with 嫉妒 (jealousy), leading to misunderstandings in emotional context. For example, saying '我嫉妒他的成功' (I envy his success) should be corrected to '我羡慕他的成功' to convey the intended admiration.
Write 羡慕
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Practice writing 羡慕 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 羡慕
羡慕 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Fill the gap
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他们的收入和生活方式会令很多人都____不已。
They enjoyed an income and lifestyle that many people would envy.
Example Sentences for 羡慕 (6)
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Frequently Asked Questions about 羡慕
No, it can also be a positive admiration, reflecting appreciation for someone's qualities or achievements.
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