如愿以偿

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: rú yuàn yǐ cháng
• English Translation: To have one's wish fulfilled, to see one's hopes realized, to have things go as desired
• Idiom Composition: 「如」（As, according to）＋「愿」（Wish, desire）＋「以」（With, by means of）＋「偿」（To fulfill, to satisfy）
• Meaning: To have things turn out as one wishes; to have one's desires fulfilled and feel satisfied.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「如愿以偿」 contains the following nuances:

• Fulfillment of wishes: Refers to the realization of long-held dreams or goals.
• Sense of satisfaction: Accompanied by a deep sense of satisfaction and accomplishment from having one's wishes fulfilled.
• Result of effort: Often implies that the wish was fulfilled not by chance but as a result of hard work and perseverance.

3. Usage

「如愿以偿」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Describing wish fulfillment: Used to describe situations where someone’s long-held wish has come true.
  • Example:「经过十年的努力，他终于如愿以偿地成为了一名飞行员。」
    （After ten years of effort, he finally had his wish fulfilled and became a pilot.）
• Emphasizing the result: Used to emphasize that a wish was fulfilled as a result of certain actions or events.
  • Example:「由于她的出色表现，她如愿以偿地获得了奖学金。」
    （Thanks to her outstanding performance, she received the scholarship as she wished.）
• Words of blessing: Also used as a phrase to bless or wish others to have their wishes fulfilled.
  • Example:「祝你早日如愿以偿！」
    （I wish you will have your wish fulfilled soon!）

Additional Examples:

1. 经过多年的异地恋，他们终于如愿以偿地走到了一起。
   （After years of a long-distance relationship, they finally had their wish fulfilled and got together.）
2. 他一直梦想着环游世界，今年他终于如愿以偿了。
   （He had always dreamed of traveling around the world, and this year he finally fulfilled that wish.）
3. 通过刻苦学习，她如愿以偿地考入了理想的大学。
   （Through hard study, she was admitted to her ideal university as she wished.）
4. 经过一番波折，他如愿以偿地找到了自己心仪的工作。
   （After some twists and turns, he found the job he desired.）
5. 经过不懈的努力，他终于如愿以偿地在比赛中获得了冠军。
   （After relentless effort, he finally achieved his long-cherished victory in the competition.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Effort and achievement: In Chinese culture, effort and the results it brings are highly valued. The idiom '如愿以偿' reflects this value, emphasizing that wishes are fulfilled as a result of hard work rather than mere luck.
• Positive connotation: '如愿以偿' carries a very positive meaning and is generally not used to describe negative outcomes or results obtained through unethical means.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 心想事成 (xīn xiǎng shì chéng): What one wishes in the heart comes true; things go as desired.
  • 美梦成真 (měi mèng chéng zhēn): A beautiful dream becomes reality.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 事与愿违 (shì yǔ yuàn wéi): Things turn out opposite to one's wishes.
  • 功败垂成 (gōng bài chuí chéng): To fail at the last moment just before success.

6. Summary

'如愿以偿' is a very useful idiom for Chinese learners to express the achievement of goals and the fulfillment of wishes. Mastering this idiom will not only greatly improve your expressive ability in Chinese but also deepen your understanding of the Chinese cultural values of effort and accomplishment.