Ideographic: A king 王 gazing at the moon 月; 亡 provides the pronunciationRadical:

meaning for wàng:

  • - full moon
  • - to hope
  • - to expect
  • - to visit
  • - to gaze (into the distance)
  • - to look towards
  • - towards
  • - 15th day of month (lunar calendar)
  • - old variant of 望 to wish for
  • - to desire
  • - hope
  • - Classifiers: 个 desire
  • - wishto thirst for
  • - to long fordisappointed
  • - to lose hope
  • - to despairto visit
  • - to pay a call to