Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 바라다 | barada | [pa̠ɾa̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 희망하다 | huimanghada | [çima̠ŋɦa̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 원하다 | wonhada | [ˈwɘ(ː)nɦa̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The verb forms in Korean express the desire for something to happen with the expectation that it might occur. While 바라다 focuses on the wish for an event to happen, 원하다 focuses more on the desire or wanting of a specific object or state. If your sense of 'hope' implies a positive expectation or looking forward to something happening, the verb 기대하다 is often a more natural choice.
Which one should you use?
바라다 is the general term for wishing for an event to occur. 희망하다 is more formal and abstract, frequently used in written contexts or formal speeches. 원하다 differs by emphasizing the desire for a specific object or state rather than the occurrence of an event.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
barada
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful with the spelling of the noun form for a wish. English speakers often mistakenly use 바램, which actually means 'fading' or 'discoloration', instead of the correct noun form 바람.
Did you know?
- While 바라다 is the standard verb for 'hope', in casual spoken Korean, people often use the phrase ~었으면 좋겠다, which literally translates to 'it would be good if it had happened'.
- Depending on the context, using 원하다 (to want) instead of 바라다 (to hope) can sound demanding or selfish rather than optimistic.
- The root of 바라다 can be traced back to Middle Korean, where it was recorded in the 1447 text 석보상절 as ᄇᆞ〮라다〮.
Examples in context
- 저는 소망합니다.I hope…
- 제 소망은 세계 평화입니다.My hope is for world peace.
- 그는 너희가 모두 승리하는 것을 소망합니다.He hopes that you all will achieve victory.
- 너 행운 바랄게.I hope you'll be lucky.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hope” translations and entries 바라다, 희망하다, 원하다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 바라다, 원하다, 희망하다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
