# 拭目以待

shì mù yǐ dài

Wait attentively to see what happens

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Wipe the eyes and wait

**Register:** Standard · expressive

[Perspective](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/perspective)

## When to use it

Express interested expectation about an unresolved outcome.

Can be hopeful, skeptical, or neutral.

## Understanding the expression

Wiping the eyes suggests preparing to observe clearly when the result arrives. The expression signals attentive waiting rather than announcing a conclusion in advance. It appears before a launch, performance, experiment, or promised improvement. Its tone depends on context: the speaker may be excited or politely skeptical. The outcome still needs observation. That openness distinguishes the phrase from either endorsing a promise immediately or assuming beforehand that it must fail.

## Examples

新展览下周开幕，我们拭目以待。

### Traditional Chinese

新展覽下週開幕，我們拭目以待。

xīn zhǎn lǎn xià zhōu kāi mù ， wǒ men shì mù yǐ dài 。

The new exhibition opens next week; we await it with interest.

她能否打破纪录，大家拭目以待。

### Traditional Chinese

她能否打破紀錄，大家拭目以待。

tā néng fǒu dǎ pò jì lù ， dà jiā shì mù yǐ dài 。

Everyone is waiting to see whether she breaks the record.

改革效果如何，还要拭目以待。

### Traditional Chinese

改革效果如何，還要拭目以待。

gǎi gé xiào guǒ rú hé ， hái yào shì mù yǐ dài 。

We still need to wait and see the reform’s effects.

他说会改善服务，我拭目以待。

### Traditional Chinese

他說會改善服務，我拭目以待。

tā shuō huì gǎi shàn fú wù ， wǒ shì mù yǐ dài 。

He says service will improve; I will wait and see.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E6%8B%AD%E7%9B%AE%E4%BB%A5%E5%BE%85)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=1038&webMd=1&la=0)

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