希望
kibō[kʲibo̞ː]
The English phrase 'hope' is translated into Japanese as 希望 (kibō).
希望 is a straightforward way to express 'hope'. It can mean a general desire, a wish or a preference. In formal or administrative settings, such as when filling out forms, 希望 is used to indicate a person's preferred option, such as a preferred time or location.
Meaning: to want something to happen, with expectation that it might (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the kanji 希望, where 希 means 'rare' or 'to desire' and 望 means 'to look forward to' or 'hope'.
Which one should you use?
While both 希望 and 期待 can be translated as 'hope' in certain contexts, 期待 refers specifically to an expectation or anticipation that something will happen. In contrast, 希望 refers to a more general desire or wish.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
kibō
Did you know?
- The kanji 望 (bō) originally depicted a person standing on a high hill looking at the full moon, which is why it carries the nuance of 'looking forward to' something.
- In Japanese culture, expressing a strong personal 希望 can sometimes be seen as overly assertive or selfish in a group setting. People often use softer, indirect phrasing to avoid sounding demanding.
- In Japanese employment contexts, a 希望年収 refers to the 'desired annual salary'. This is a standard field on resumes, turning a sentimental word like 'hope' into a hard financial requirement.
Examples in context
- 希望を失った。We lost hope.This sentence is useful for expressing the loss of hope using 希望.Tatoeba #11029674 by small_snow, translation #5924918 by mailohilohi
- あまり希望がない。There is not much hope.This sentence is useful for stating that there is not much hope using 希望.Tatoeba #230333 by small_snow, translation #67698 by CK
- トムは希望に満ちている。Tom is full of hope.This sentence is useful for describing someone as being full of hope using 希望.Tatoeba #8601896 by small_snow, translation #1025039 by CK
- 28 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki and Ren are discussing a job application.
- 美咲 Misaki希望の給料はいくらですか？Kibō no kyūryō wa ikura desu ka?What is your desired salary?
- 蓮 Ren月三十万円を希望しています。Tsuki sanjūman-en o kibō shite imasu.I am hoping for 300,000 yen per month.
- 美咲 Misakiわかりました、蓮さん。Wakarimashita, Ren-san.I understand, Ren.
- 蓮 Renよろしくお願いします。Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.Thank you in advance.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 希望, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
