羡慕 xiànmù to envy
to envy; admire
How to remember 羡慕: 羡 to envy + 慕 to admire = to envy.
Characters
How it is used
- To envy / admire (wish you had what someone has) - 我很羡慕你 (wǒ hěn xiànmù nǐ) I really envy you.
- A positive, wistful envy - admiring longing, not resentment.
- Contrast 嫉妒 (jídù) 'jealousy (bitter, resentful)'; 羡慕 is the benign 'I wish that were me' feeling.
Example sentences
- 我羡慕他。 Wǒ xiànmù tā.I envy him.
- 他们都羡慕我的新车。 Tāmen dōu xiànmù wǒ de xīnchē.They all envied my new car.
- 她很羡慕好朋友的幸福婚姻。 Tā hěn xiànmù hǎo péngyou de xìngfú hūnyīn.She admires/envies her good friend's happy marriage.