yearning
/ˈjɜːnɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · [jˈɚnɪŋ] /ˈjɜːrnɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · [jˈɚnɪŋ] /ˈyər-niŋ How to pronounce yearning (audio)/ (ame, mw)
yearning — noun
- yearningsingular
- yearningsplural
1. A yearning is a deep, continuous feeling of wanting something very much, especia
A yearning is a deep, continuous feeling of wanting something very much, especially when that thing is hard to get or may never be yours.
After moving to Canada, Ilan felt a powerful yearning for the taste of his grandmother's homemade bread.
yearning + for + noun phrase
Amani's yearning to study marine biology grew stronger each time she visited the aquarium.
possessive + yearning + to-infinitive
Bao could not explain the sudden yearning he felt for the stormy weather back home.
Nia expressed a yearning to visit the remote island her grandfather described in his letters.
- longing
More poetic and melancholic than yearning; often used for something lost in the past
- desire
A broader and more neutral term; can range from casual wants to strong needs
- craving
More urgent and physical than yearning; often used for specific substances or experiences
- wish
Less intense and more versatile; can be used for anything from a casual hope to a determined want
- contentment
A state of being satisfied with what one has, opposite of the restless want implied by yearning
- indifference
Lack of interest or concern, the emotional opposite of a strong desire
文法句型
yearning + for + noun / noun phrase
yearning + to-infinitive
a + yearning + for + noun
possessive + yearning + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Unlike 'wish,' which can be casual, yearning always suggests a strong emotional pull and often implies that the desired thing is distant or out of reach. Frequently used with possessive determiners (her yearning, their yearning).