hopeful

Compared meaning: looking forward to something with expectation (adjective).

比较义项：满怀希望的、期待的（形容词）。

• hopeful 本词

  Expresses optimism and belief that a good outcome will happen; used for uncertain future situations, often paired with 'about' or 'that'.

  表达乐观，相信会有好结果；用于结果尚不确定的情形，常与“about”或“that”连用。

  She stayed hopeful that her application would be accepted this time.

  她仍然满怀希望，相信这次申请会被接受。

• expectant

  Describes eager, tense waiting for something known to be coming soon, without necessarily implying optimism; often used for crowds, faces, or pregnancy.

  描述急切、紧张地等待某件已知即将发生的事，不一定带乐观意味；常用于人群、表情或怀孕的语境。

  The crowd fell silent, expectant, as the winner's name was about to be announced.

  人群安静下来，满怀期待地等着获奖者的名字被宣布。

Hopeful and expectant both describe looking forward to something. Hopeful expresses optimism, believing a good outcome will happen, for an uncertain future. Expectant is more neutral, stressing eager, tense waiting for something coming soon, like a crowd or a face. Not compared: expectant meaning pregnant.

两词都表示对未来某事抱有积极的期待，但 hopeful 强调乐观、相信好事会发生的情绪，而 expectant 更中性，只强调急切等待某事发生，不一定带乐观色彩，常用于等待具体、已知会发生的事（如怀孕待产、颁奖结果）。expectant 还常特指“怀孕待产的”这一固定搭配（expectant mother），此义不在本卡比较范围内。