HSK 6
恨不得
hènbude
to wish badly
Structure
Subject + 恨不得 + (Verb Phrase/Clause)
How it works
The word '恨不得' is an adverb used to express a strong desire to do something that is currently impossible or very difficult to achieve. It conveys a sense of urgency, impatience, or extreme eagerness, often reflecting the speaker's internal anxiety or high expectations.
Examples
听了那个好消息，他恨不得马上飞回家告诉父母。
Tīngle nàge hǎo xiāoxi, tā hènbude mǎshàng fēi huí jiā gàosù fùmǔ.
After hearing the good news, he wished he could fly home immediately to tell his parents.
为了早点完成任务，她恨不得一天有四十八小时。
Wèile zǎodiǎn wánchéng rènwu, tā hènbude yìtiān yǒu sìshíbā xiǎoshí.
In order to finish the task sooner, she wishes there were 48 hours in a day.
由于太害羞了，他恨不得找个地缝钻进去。
Yóuyú tài hàixiū le, tā hènbude zhǎo ge dìfèng zuān jìnqù.
Because he was so shy, he wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Common mistakes
Do not confuse '恨不得' with '不想' (don't want); despite starting with '恨' (hate), it means 'itching to' or 'dying to,' not a literal hatred of something.
Tip
Think of '恨不得' as 'hating the fact that I cannot' do something right now. It is frequently used with exaggerated scenarios, like 'flying' or 'having 48 hours,' to emphasize the intensity of the feeling.
More HSK 6 grammar
See 恨不得 in real Chinese
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