私には夢がある
watashi ni wa yume ga aru
The English phrase "I have a dream" is expressed in Japanese as 私には夢がある (watashi ni wa yume ga aru).
This phrase is used to express a strong hope or ambition for the future.
What does it mean word for word?
The literal translation of 私には夢がある is "To me, a dream exists".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a more polite tone suitable for formal speeches or presentations, you can use 私には夢があります. If you are a male speaker wishing to sound more informal, you can use 僕には夢がある. A formal expression used to convey the idea of carrying a dream is 夢を抱いています.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase 私には夢がある, the particle には emphasizes the subject "me" as the person to whom the dream belongs. For the verb, Japanese uses ある to indicate the existence of inanimate objects like dreams, rather than the verb 持つ which implies physically holding or possessing something.
How do you pronounce it?
watashi ni wa yume ga aru
Did you know?
- The phrase 夢を抱いています uses the verb 抱く, which literally means 'to embrace' or 'to hold in one's arms'. It creates a poetic image of carrying the dream close to your chest.
- In Japanese pop culture, particularly in anime and manga, the phrase 夢がある can be used as an adjective to describe a person or a plan that is 'inspiring' or 'full of possibility'.
- If you were to use the word 夢 (yume) to describe a dream you had while sleeping, the sentence structure remains the same, but the emotional weight of the phrase changes entirely.
Examples in context
- 私には夢がある。I have a dream.Tatoeba #5035 by bunbuku, translation #1630 by al_ex_an_der
- 私には夢がある。それは、いつの日か、私の４人の幼い子どもたちが、肌の色によってではなく、人格そのものによって評価される国に住むという夢である。I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.This sentence shows the phrase 私には夢がある used in the context of a famous speech.Tatoeba #6484113 by LeeSooHa, translation #6484105 by LeeSooHa
- 彼は将来、大統領になる夢を持っています。He has a dream to become a president in the future.
- 私は音楽家になる夢を抱いています。I have a dream to become a musician.
- 映画監督になる夢がある。There is a dream of becoming a film director.
- 私には夢がある。いつか世界中を旅することだ。Watashi ni wa yume ga aru. Itsuka sekaijuu o tabisuru koto da.I have a dream. It is to travel around the world someday.
Example conversation
Kenta and Yui are talking about their futures at school.
- 健太 Kenta結衣、将来は何になりたい？Yui, shourai wa nani ni naritai?Yui, what do you want to be in the future?
- 結衣 Yuiまだ迷っているよ。健太は？Mada mayotte iru yo. Kenta wa?I'm still undecided. How about you, Kenta?
- 健太 Kenta私には夢がある。世界中を旅したいんだ。Watashi ni wa yume ga aru. Sekaijuu o tabi shitai nda.I have a dream. I want to travel all over the world.
- 結衣 Yuiそれは素敵な夢だね！Sore wa suteki na yume da ne!That's a wonderful dream!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
