Translation guide
The English word 'wish' covers desires, hopes, regrets, and polite requests. Japanese uses different expressions depending on whether the wish is a general hope, a concrete desire, a regret about the past, or a wish for someone else's well-being.
Expressing a personal desire for an object, action, or state, often in a straightforward or emotional way.
An i-adjective meaning 'want' or 'desire'. Used for objects or for someone to do something (with te-form). Very common and direct.
Attach to the masu-stem of a verb to express 'want to do'. Very common for personal desires.
Literally '~ is good', used to express a preference or wish for something specific. Softer than 欲しい.
コーヒーがいいです。
I'd like coffee.
Expressing a wish or hope that something will happen, often with uncertainty or a positive desire.
Attach to plain form of verb/adjective. Expresses hope that something will happen. Often used with ね for shared feeling.
明日晴れるといいね。
I hope it's sunny tomorrow.
試験に合格するといいな。
I hope I pass the exam.
Verb meaning 'to wish' or 'to hope', often used in formal or heartfelt contexts. Can be used with 〜ように.
平和を願っています。
I wish for peace.
成功するように願っています。
I wish you success.
Used with verbs like 祈る (to pray) or 願う to express a wish. Often in set phrases.
ご多幸をお祈りします。
I wish you happiness.
Expressing good wishes for someone's health, happiness, or success, often in formal or set expressions.
Standard congratulatory expression. Used for birthdays, achievements, etc.
お誕生日おめでとうございます。
Happy birthday! (lit. Congratulations on your birthday)
Said to someone who is sick or injured, meaning 'Take care' or 'I hope you get well soon'.
Formal expression meaning 'I wish you happiness/good fortune'. Used in letters or speeches.
今後のご多幸をお祈りします。
I wish you all the best in the future.
Expressing a wish that a past situation had been different, often with a sense of regret.
Attach to conditional form of verb. Means 'I wish I had done ~' or 'I should have done ~'.
もっと勉強すればよかった。
I wish I had studied more.
彼に言わなければよかった。
I wish I hadn't told him.
Similar to 〜ばよかった, using the -tara conditional. Slightly more colloquial.
早く起きたらよかった。
I wish I had woken up earlier.
Expressing a wish in a polite, formal, or customer-service context, often as a request.
Polite way to express a desire, often used to make a request. Literally 'I would like to do ~, but...' (implying 'could you help?').
この本を買いたいのですが。
I'd like to buy this book.
Very polite way to request something, literally 'Could I receive ~?'. Common in service situations.
お水をいただけますか。
Could I have some water?
Expressing a wish in a magical or ritualistic sense, like wishing on a star or making a birthday wish.
Literally 'to do a wish thing', meaning to make a wish (e.g., on a star, at a shrine).
星に願い事をした。
I made a wish upon a star.
To make a wish, often at a temple or shrine. Implies a more formal or spiritual act.
神社で願いをかけた。
I made a wish at the shrine.
English 'I wish' often translates to 〜といい or 〜ばいい, not a single word. Using 願う directly can sound overly formal or dramatic in casual speech.
欲しい is for wanting objects or wanting someone to do something. 〜たい is for wanting to do something yourself. Do not use 欲しい with your own actions.
お大事に。
I hope you feel better soon.