愿望

• Pinyin: yuàn wàng
• Hanzi breakdown: 愿 = 原 (original) + 心 (heart), simplified from 願, meaning 'to wish'; 望 = 亡 (perish) + 月 (moon) + 王 (king), meaning 'to gaze' or 'to hope'

Meaning

Wish; desire; aspiration. A hope or longing for something to happen or be true.

Refers to heartfelt wishes and aspirations, often about important life goals or dreams. Commonly used in phrases like 实现愿望 (realise a wish) and 美好的愿望 (beautiful wishes). More formal and deeper than 希望 (hope).

Examples

1. 她最大的愿望是环游世界。 Her greatest wish is to travel around the world.
2. 祝你所有的愿望都能实现。 May all your wishes come true.
3. 小时候，我的愿望是当一名医生。 When I was young, my wish was to be a doctor.

Usage Guide

Context: personal, celebrations, goals

Tone: hopeful

Do Say

• 你的新年愿望是什么？(What is your New Year's wish?)
• 我终于实现了自己的愿望。(I finally fulfilled my wish.)

Don't Say

• 我的愿望是吃午饭。(Don't use 愿望 for trivial everyday desires — it implies significant aspirations; use 想 for simple wants)

Origin & History

愿 (willing, wish) + 望 (to hope, to gaze). Together: a heartfelt wish or aspiration.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal