願っています
negatteimasu
In Japanese, "I hope" is expressed as 願っています (negatteimasu).
The phrase is used to express a desire for something to happen in the future. While it translates to "I hope," it carries a slightly stronger nuance of "praying for" or "earnestly desiring" than the English equivalent.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
願っています is a polite way to express a hope or wish. If you need a more formal way to say "I hope" or "I wish," you can use 希望します.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to say "I hope that [clause]," the clause is typically followed by the particle combination ことを to turn the action into a noun phrase that is being wished for.
How do you pronounce it?
negatteimasu
Did you know?
- While 'I hope' in English is often used for small things like 'I hope it doesn't rain', using 願っています for such trivialities can make you sound overly dramatic or even religious.
- In Japanese, you might use the word for 'hope' to describe a 'wish' in a dream, but the way you phrase it depends on whether the thing is actually possible. Using certain forms can accidentally imply that what you are hoping for is a physical impossibility.
- The verb 願う can be used to form 'request' patterns in formal Japanese, where the speaker 'hopes' the other person will do something. In these cases, it functions more as a polite command than a wish.
Examples in context
- 彼が成功することを願っています。I hope that he will succeed.This sentence shows how to express a hope regarding someone else's success using 願っています.Tatoeba #1198108 by bunbuku, translation #283914 by CK
- 君が早く回復するのを願っています。I hope that you will get well soon.This sentence is useful for expressing a wish for someone's recovery using 願っています.Tatoeba #178933 by bunbuku, translation #17787 by CK
- いつかボストンに行けることを願っています。I hope to visit Boston someday.This sentence shows how to express a personal hope to visit a place using 願っています.Tatoeba #8967788 by Ninja, translation #6258953 by CK
- 私はあなたの成功を希望します。I hope for your success.
- 彼女の早い回復を希望します。I hope for her quick recovery.
- 安全な旅行を願います。I hope for a safe trip.
- 世界平和を願います。I hope for world peace.
- 旅行が楽しいことを願いますよ！I really hope you have a great trip!
- 明るい未来を願いたいですよ。I hope for a bright future, you know.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ren and Misaki are talking about a job interview.
- 蓮 Ren明日、面接があるんだ。Ashita, mensetsu ga aru nda.I have a job interview tomorrow.
- 美咲 Misakiいい結果になることを願っています。Ii kekka ni naru koto o negatte imasu.I hope you get a good result.
- 蓮 Renありがとう。頑張るよ。Arigatou. Ganbaru yo.Thank you. I'll do my best.
- 美咲 Misaki応援しているね。Ouen shite iru ne.I'm rooting for you.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
