願い事をする
negaigoto o suru
To make a wish in Japanese is to say 願い事をする (negaigoto o suru).
The phrase 願い事をする is used when you think of something you want to happen in the hope that it will come true. It is commonly used in contexts such as blowing out birthday candles or making a wish upon a shooting star.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of the noun 願い事, which is a compound of 願い, meaning 'wish' or 'prayer' and 事, meaning 'thing' or 'matter'. This noun is followed by the object marker を and the verb する, which means 'to do'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 願い事をする is the dictionary form. In polite conversation, you should use 願い事をします instead.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase is constructed by taking the noun 願い事, adding the object marker を and ending with the verb する.
How do you pronounce it?
negaigoto o suru
Did you know?
- In Japanese culture, there is a concept called koto-dama, the belief that words have mystical power, making the act of stating a 願い事 potentially transformative.
- In Japan, making a wish is often tied to the ritual of writing your desire on a wooden plaque called a 絵馬, or ema, and hanging it at a shrine.
- The word 願い shares a linguistic root with the verb 願う, which can mean both 'to wish' and 'to pray', blurring the line between a secular wish and a religious plea.
Examples in context
- この願いが叶いますように、健康になりますようにMay this wish come true, and may I become healthy.
- 星を見ながら願い事をする。Hoshi o minagara negaigoto o suru.I make a wish while looking at the stars.
- 誕生日には願い事をする習慣があります。Tanjōbi ni wa negaigoto o suru shūkan ga arimasu.I have a habit of making a wish on my birthday.
- ケーキのロウソクを消す前に願い事をする。Kēki no rōsoku o kesu mae ni negaigoto o suru.Make a wish before blowing out the birthday cake candles.
