mong6 zi2 sing4 lung4望子成龍望子成龙

Jyutpingmong6 zi2 sing4 lung4

Yalemohng jí sìhng lùhng

語句

Definition

To hope or expect one's son to become highly successful and achieve great things in the future.

colloquialfamilypeople

How it's used

This idiom is frequently used to describe the intense academic and career pressure parents place on their children in Hong Kong society. It carries a sense of expectation that often borders on being overbearing or demanding. While it literally refers to sons, it is applied gender neutrally to all children in modern usage.

Examples

keoi5佢fu6父mou5母hou2好mong6望zi2子sing4成lung4龍，bik1逼keoi5佢duk6讀hou2好do1多syu1書。

His parents really want him to succeed, so they force him to study a lot.

nei5你hai6係mai6咪taai2太mong6望zi2子sing4成lung4龍，gaau2搞dou3到go3個zai2仔gam3咁daai6大aat3壓lik6力？

Are you putting too much pressure on your son because you want him to be successful?

Common phrases

mong6望zi2子sing4成lung4龍sam1心taai3態

the mentality of wanting one's child to be successful

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a simple wish for a child's happiness, but it specifically implies a desire for high status, academic achievement, or professional success. It is not used to describe general parenting goals like health or kindness.