羡慕 (xiàn mù) is a verb meaning 'to envy' or 'to admire with longing' — it conveys a warm, often bittersweet feeling of wanting what someone else has, whether it’s success, possessions, relationships, or personal qualities. The first character 羡 (xiàn) means 'to covet' or 'to look up to', while 慕 (mù) adds the sense of 'yearning' or 'deep affection', together forming a word that emphasizes emotional resonance rather than mere jealousy.

This word is commonly used in everyday speech and writing to express positive admiration tinged with desire — for example, admiring a friend’s fluency in Chinese, a colleague’s promotion, or a classmate’s confidence. Unlike the more negative 嫉妒 (jí dù), which implies resentment or ill will, 羡慕 carries neutral-to-positive connotations and is socially acceptable to express openly, even self-deprecatingly ('I really admire you!'). It typically takes a direct object (e.g., 羡慕他) and is rarely used in formal documents but very common in conversations, social media, and storytelling.