翘首以待 qiáo shǒu yǐ dài to crane one's neck in anticipation

Explanation

形容殷切盼望。

Describes eager anticipation.

Origin Story

夕阳西下，一位白发苍苍的老者站在村口，眺望着远方那条蜿蜒的山路。他日夜翘首以待，盼望着他远行的儿子归来。几十年来，儿子为了生计远走他乡，只留下他一人孤零零地守着老屋。每当夜幕降临，他总是独自一人坐在院子里，望着星空，回忆着儿子的点点滴滴。儿子曾经说过，他会回来，会带着荣归故里的荣耀和成功的喜悦，回来与他共享天伦之乐。老者坚信着儿子的诺言，日复一日，年复一年，他从未放弃过希望。他像一棵历经风雨的古树，扎根在故土，以顽强的生命力支撑着这份期盼。尽管岁月流逝，风霜侵蚀，但他那颗期盼的心却始终如一，从未改变。终于，在秋风瑟瑟的一个傍晚，他远远地看到一个熟悉的身影沿着山路走来，他激动地站起身来，颤巍巍地伸出手，泪水夺眶而出。是他的儿子！多年分离的思念，在这一刻化为了幸福的泪水，他紧紧地拥抱住儿子，心中充满了喜悦与激动。

xī yáng xī xià, yī wèi bái fà cāng cāng de lǎo zhě zhàn zài cūn kǒu, tiào wàng zhe yuǎn fāng nà tiáo wānyán de shān lù。tā rì yè qiáo shǒu yǐ dài, pàn wàng zhe tā yuǎn xíng de ér zi guī lái。jǐ shí nián lái, ér zi wèi le shēng jì yuǎn zǒu tā xiāng, zhǐ liú xià tā yī rén gū líng líng de shǒu zhe lǎo wū。měi dāng yè mù jiàng lín, tā zǒng shì dú zì yī rén zuò zài yuàn zi lǐ, wàng zhe xīng kōng, huí yì zhe ér zi de diǎn diǎn dī dī。ér zi céng jīng shuō guò, tā huì huí lái, huì dài zhe róng guī gù lǐ de róng yào hé chéng gōng de xǐ yuè, huí lái yǔ tā gòng xiǎng tiān lún zhī lè。lǎo zhě jiān xìn zhe ér zi de nuò yán, rì fù yī rì, nián fù yī nián, tā cóng wèi fàng qì guò xī wàng。tā xiàng yī kē lì jīng fēng yǔ de gǔ shù, zā gēn zài gù tǔ, yǐ wán qiáng de shēng mìng lì zhī chēng zhe zhè fèn qī pàn。jǐn guǎn suì yuè liú shì, fēng shuāng qīn shí, dàn tā nà kē qī pàn de xīn què shǐ zhōng rú yī, cóng wèi gǎi biàn。zhōng yú, zài qiū fēng sè sè de yī gè bàng wǎn, tā yuǎn yuǎn de kàn dào yī gè shú xī de shēn yǐng yán zhe shān lù zǒu lái, tā jī dòng de zhàn qǐ shēn lái, chàn wēi wēi de shēn chū shǒu, lèi shuǐ duó kuàng ér chū。shì tā de ér zi!

As the sun set, a white-haired old man stood at the village entrance, gazing at the winding mountain road in the distance. Day and night, he eagerly awaited the return of his son, who had left home years ago in search of a better life, leaving him alone in their old house. Every evening, he would sit alone in the courtyard, watching the stars, reminiscing about his son. His son had once promised he would come back, bringing glory and joy from his achievements. The old man held steadfastly to this promise, year after year, never giving up hope. He stood like an ancient tree, weathered by storms, rooted in his native soil, his life force sustaining this unwavering expectation. Though years passed and the seasons changed, his hopeful heart remained unchanged. Finally, on a cool autumn evening, he saw a familiar figure walking along the mountain path. He rose excitedly, his hand trembling, tears welling up in his eyes. It was his son! Years of longing were released in tears of joy as he embraced his son, his heart filled with happiness and emotion.

Usage

用于描写期待的心情，多用于比较正式的场合。

yòng yú miáo xiě qī dài de xīn qíng, duō yòng yú bǐ jiào zhèng shì de chǎng hé。

Used to describe the feeling of anticipation, mostly in more formal situations.

Examples

• 乡亲们都翘首以待，盼望着丰收的季节。

  xiāng qīn men dōu qiáo shǒu yǐ dài, pàn wàng zhe fēng shōu de jì jié。

  Villagers are eagerly awaiting the harvest season.

• 他翘首以待，期盼着远方来客的到来。

  tā qiáo shǒu yǐ dài, qī pàn zhe yuǎn fāng lái kè de dào lái。

  He waited expectantly for the arrival of the guest from afar.

Related Idioms

• 翘首引领

• 望穿秋水

Opposite Idioms

• 漠不关心

• 无动于衷