希望

• Reading: きぼう
• Romaji: kibou
• Kanji breakdown: 希 (ki) — rare, hope; 望 (bō) — desire, gaze afar
• Pronunciation: /ki.boː/

Meaning

Hope; wish; aspiration. A desire for something to happen or be true.

A noun that also functions as a suru verb (希望する). Used for both personal wishes and formal requests/preferences. Common in job applications (希望職種, desired position), scheduling (希望日, preferred date), and salary discussions (希望年収). More formal than 願い (wish) and carries a stronger sense of earnest desire.

Examples

1. 将来は海外で働くことを希望している。 I hope to work overseas in the future.
2. 希望の大学に合格できてうれしい。 I'm happy I got into the college I was hoping for.
3. 参加を希望する方はこちらにご連絡ください。 If you'd like to participate, please contact us here.

Usage Guide

Context: career, applications, life goals

Tone: positive

Origin & History

Compound of 希 (ki, rare/hope for) and 望 (bō, desire/gaze into the distance). Together, 'gazing toward something rare and desired' — reaching for what one earnestly wants.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal