大旱望雲霓

Chinese

great drought
 
hope; expect; to visit
hope; expect; to visit; to gaze (into the distance); look towards; towards
trad. (大旱望雲霓) 大旱 望 雲霓
simp. (大旱望云霓) 大旱 望 云霓
Literally: “long for a rain cloud during a drought”.

Alternative forms

Etymology

From the Mencius.

臣聞七十里為政於天下者,湯是也。……民望之,若大旱之望雲霓也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
臣闻七十里为政于天下者,汤是也。……民望之,若大旱之望云霓也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4th century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Chén wén qīshí lǐ wéizhèng yú tiānxià zhě, Tāng shì yě....... Mín wàng zhī, ruò dàhàn zhī wàng yúnní yě. [Pinyin]
I have heard of one who with seventy li exercised all the functions of government throughout the kingdom. That was Tang. […] Thus, the people looked to him, as we look in a time of great drought to the clouds and rainbows.

Pronunciation


Idiom

大旱望雲霓

  1. to look forward to relief from distress
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