tưởng vọng

Một người đàn ông ngồi mơ mộng tưởng vọng về một lâu đài trên mây.

Definition

Verb:
- To think of with respect and longing; to cherish the memory of: To direct one's thoughts respectfully towards someone or something distant, often with reverence and a sense of yearning. This meaning aligns with the Vietnamese-French dictionary's "penser avec respect à ; évoquer avec déférence."
- To have impractical yearnings; to indulge in unrealistic thoughts: To wish for or dwell on things that are fanciful, unattainable, or not grounded in reality. This meaning aligns with the Vietnamese-Vietnamese dictionary's "Mong ước những điều không thiết thực."

Usage Examples

Verb (to think of with respect):
- Chúng tôi thành kính tưởng vọng về tổ tiên. (We respectfully cherish the memory of our ancestors.)
- Nhân ngày giỗ, cả gia đình tưởng vọng đến ông bà. (On the death anniversary, the whole family thinks with reverence of their grandparents.)
Verb (to have impractical yearnings):
- Anh ta chỉ biết tưởng vọng đến giàu sang mà không chịu làm việc. (He only indulges in unrealistic thoughts of wealth and refuses to work.)
- Đừng tưởng vọng những điều viển vông. (Don't yearn for impractical things.)

Advanced Usage

The word is formal and carries a literary tone. The specific meaning is heavily dependent on context. When the object is a revered person (ancestors, national heroes), the first, respectful meaning applies. When the object is an abstract or unrealistic goal, the second, more critical meaning applies.

Variants and Related Words

Tưởng nhớ (v): To remember, to commemorate (often used for the deceased). This is more commonly used than "tưởng vọng" for the act of remembrance without the additional connotation of unrealistic yearning.
Mơ tưởng (v): To dream of, to fantasize about (often with a sense of unrealistic desire).

Synonyms

Related Idioms

Tưởng vọng hão huyền: To indulge in vain/empty fantasies.
- Kế hoạch của họ chỉ là tưởng vọng hão huyền. (Their plan is just an indulgence in vain fantasies.)