但愿
dànyuàn
In Chinese, "I wish" is expressed as 但愿 (dànyuàn).
但愿 is used to express a desire for a situation that is currently not the case or is uncertain. It often carries a tone of longing or hope.
Meaning: I would very much like that to be so (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 但 (dàn), meaning 'only' or 'just' and 愿 (yuàn), meaning 'to wish' or 'to be willing'. Literally, it means 'only wish/hope'.
Which one should you use?
While 但愿 expresses a wish or a hope for a specific outcome, it is more focused on a singular, often idealized desire compared to the more general 希望 (xīwàng), which means 'to hope'.
How does it change in a sentence?
Unlike English, which often uses the subjunctive mood (for example, 'I wish I were'), 但愿 is followed by a standard indicative clause without changing the verb tense.
How do you pronounce it?
dànyuàn
Did you know?
- The word 愿 is the root of 愿望 (yuànwàng), which is the standard noun for 'a wish'. In Chinese culture, these are often written on red slips of paper and tied to temple trees to ensure they come true.
- In English, saying 'I wish!' can be a sarcastic way to say something is impossible, but in Chinese, 但愿 is almost always a sincere and genuine expression.
- In classical Chinese poetry, the structure 但愿 was often used to express a selfless wish where the speaker prioritizes the well-being of another person over their own desires.
Examples in context
- 但愿我是一个好歌手。I wish I were a good singer.This sentence is useful for expressing a wish about one's own abilities with 但愿.Tatoeba #1415841 by sadhen, translation #23928 by CK
- 但愿我能找到在我的博客上屏蔽评论的办法。I wish I could figure out how to disable comments on my blog.This sentence is useful for expressing a wish to find a way to do something with 但愿.Tatoeba #7771874 by jiangche, translation #953728 by CK
- 我希望我能成功。I wish I could succeed.
- 我希望你能尽快找到工作。I wish you can find a job as soon as possible.
- 但愿我们的梦想能实现。I wish our dreams could come true.
- 但愿你的家人健康快乐。I wish your family good health and happiness.
- 希望我们能一直做好朋友。I wish we can always be good friends.
- 希望你能一切顺利。I wish you every success.
- 但愿明天是个晴天。Dànyuàn míngtiān shì gè qíngtiān.I wish tomorrow would be a sunny day.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing the upcoming weekend weather.
- 佳怡 Jiayi周末天气会很好吗？Zhōumò tiānqì huì hěn hǎo ma?Will the weather be good this weekend?
- 浩然 Haoran但愿如此。Dànyuàn rúcǐ.I wish that were the case.
- 佳怡 Jiayi要是能去郊游就好了。Yàoshi néng qù jiāoyóu jiù hǎo le.It would be great if we could go on an outing.
- 浩然 Haoran我也有同感。Wǒ yě yǒu tónggǎn.I feel the same way.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
