Chinese idiom · 成语
望眼欲穿
Meaning
Eyes strain to pierce; eager anticipation.
Character by character
Origin and story
poetic expressionThe image of eyes strained by longing appears in Tang poetry before the familiar four-character form. In a long poem addressed to the demoted officials Jia Zhi and Yan Wu, Du Fu pairs the pain of old friendship with new sorrow that seems to wear through his eyes. Bai Juyi likewise writes of looking so intently toward a distant friend that his eyes seem pierced. These are poetic exaggerations for separation and yearning, not accounts of damaged eyesight. The later idiom brings the act of waiting and looking into a compact expression, used for deeply anticipated people, news, or events.
Sources and further reading
In everyday life
孩子们在门口等外婆，等得望眼欲穿，听见车声就跑出去看。
The children waited eagerly at the door for Grandma, running out to look whenever they heard a car.
Emphasizes prolonged, intense anticipation; often appears after 等得 or 盼得.