-らいいのになあ
-ra ii noni nā
The English phrase "I wish" can be expressed in Japanese using -らいいのになあ (-ra ii noni nā). Wiktionary also lists -ならいいのになあ (-nara ii noni nā) and -よいものを (yoi mono o).
Meaning: I would very much like that to be so (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| -らいいのになあ | -ra ii noni nā |
| -ならいいのになあ | -nara ii noni nā |
| -よいものを | yoi mono o |
These expressions are used to express a wish, a hope for a favorable outcome or a feeling that something would be very much desired to be a certain way.
How does it change in a sentence?
The sentence-ending particle なあ in -らいいのになあ adds a nuance of longing, sighing or the feeling of talking to oneself.
How do you pronounce it?
-ra ii noni nā
Did you know?
- Using -らいいのに can sometimes function as a polite way to complain about a situation without directly blaming a person.
- When wishing for someone else's happiness, speakers often avoid -らいいのになあ and instead use -ように to avoid sounding like they are judging the current situation.
- In Japanese, expressing a strong wish like -らいいのに can sometimes be perceived as being slightly self-indulgent or 'heavy' if used too often in conversation.
Examples in context
- 雨が降らない といいな 。I wish it doesn't rain.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I wish” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
