wàng望hopezǐ子sonchéng成becomelóng龙dragon
Hoping one's son becomes a dragon — parents' high hopes for their child.
Literal meaning
hope (望) — son (子) — become (成) — dragon (龙)
Origin
A traditional four-character phrase reflecting the Chinese cultural ideal of the dragon as the symbol of greatness. The phrase has long been used (sometimes affectionately, sometimes critically) to describe parents who push their children toward extraordinary achievement.
Examples
Zhōng中guó国fù父mǔ母wàng望zǐ子chéng成lóng龙。
Chinese parents hope their children will achieve great things.
Wàng望zǐ子chéng成lóng龙de的xīn心qíng情kě可yǐ以lǐ理jiě解。
The desire to see one's child succeed is understandable.
Usage & nuances
Often used critically of parental pressure. There's an equivalent 望女成凤 (hope daughter becomes a phoenix) but 望子成龙 is more frequently invoked.
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