HSK 7-9
巴不得
bā bù dé
To be only too eager to; to wish desperately
Structure
Subject + 巴不得 + (Predicate / Clause)
How it works
The word '巴不得' is a high-level verb used to express a strong, impatient desire for something to happen. It often implies that the speaker is eagerly waiting for a specific outcome, often one that seems ideal or highly beneficial.
Examples
他巴不得马上就能飞回家。高度的压力让他身心俱疲。
Tā bā bù dé mǎ shàng jiù néng fēi huí jiā. Gāo dù de yā lì ràng tā shēn xīn jù pí.
He can't wait to fly home immediately. The high pressure has left him physically and mentally exhausted.
听说明天放假，同学们都巴不得现在就放学。
Tīng shuō míng tiān fàng jià, tóng xué men dōu bā bù dé xiàn zài jiù fàng xué.
Hearing that tomorrow is a holiday, the students are all eager to finish school right now.
既然他想走，我巴不得他赶紧离开，省得大家心里都不舒服。
Jì rán tā xiǎng zǒu, wǒ bā bù dé tā gǎn jǐn lí kāi, shěng de dà jiā xīn lǐ dōu bù shū fu.
Since he wants to go, I am only too eager for him to leave quickly, to save everyone from feeling uncomfortable.
Common mistakes
Do not use '巴不得' for simple requests or polite wishes; it is reserved for intense, urgent desires where the subject is impatient.
Tip
Think of '巴不得' as 'dying to' or 'anxious to' in English. It often collocates with adverbs like 赶紧 (gǎnjǐn) or 马上 (mǎshàng) to emphasize the urgency of the wish.
More HSK 7-9 grammar
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