事与愿违
事与愿违 (shì yǔ yuàn wéi) literally means “events contrary to wishes” and expresses “things turn out contrary to expectations”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: shi yu yuan wei, shi yu yuan wei,事与愿违 meaning, 事与愿违 in english
Things turn out contrary to expectations
Pronunciation: shì yǔ yuàn wéi Literal meaning: Events contrary to wishes
Origin & Usage
Ji Kang, awaiting execution in the third century, wrote 事与愿违，遘兹淹留 — affairs (事) ran counter (违) to what I wished (愿), and so I have come to this confinement. The 与 is doing quiet work: it marks the two sides being set against each other, events on one hand and intention on the other, which is why the phrase reads as a collision rather than a disappointment. Where English says things did not go to plan, this carries more weight, and it usually marks a case where the effort was real and the outcome still went the other way.
Examples
English: "Despite careful planning, things didn't turn out as hoped."
Chinese: 尽管精心计划，结果却事与愿违。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
一波三折
yī bō sān zhé
Many twists and turns
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改邪归正
gǎi xié guī zhèng
Return to righteousness
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好逸恶劳
hào yì wù láo
Shirk effort by preference
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物极必反
wù jí bì fǎn
Push far enough and it turns
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塞翁失马
sài wēng shī mǎ
Misfortune might be a blessing
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近水楼台
jìn shuǐ lóu tái
Advantage from close connections
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夜郎自大
yè láng zì dà
Overestimate oneself
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因果报应
yīn guǒ bào yìng
Good and evil deeds repaid in kind
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 事与愿违 mean in English?
事与愿违 (shì yǔ yuàn wéi) literally translates to “Events contrary to wishes” and is used to express “Things turn out contrary to expectations”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 事与愿违 used?
Situation: Despite careful planning, things didn't turn out as hoped.
What is the pinyin for 事与愿违?
The pinyin pronunciation for 事与愿违 is “shì yǔ yuàn wéi”.