Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 빌다 | bilda | [ˈpi(ː)ɭda̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 바라다 | barada | [pa̠ɾa̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 원하다 | wonhada | [ˈwɘ(ː)nɦa̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 희망하다 | huimanghada | [çima̠ŋɦa̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 소원하다 | sowonhada | [ˈsʰo̞(ː)wʌ̹nɦa̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The phrase can be expressed in several ways depending on the intensity and nature of the wish. If you are desperately begging or praying for a specific outcome, often in a religious or supplicating context, use 빌다. This verb is also the standard way to say one is begging or pleading for forgiveness (용서를 빌다). If you are expressing a general hope or wish for a certain state or outcome to occur, use 바라다. If your wish is focused more on the desire for a specific object or thing, use 원하다.
Which one should you use?
While 바라다 is the most common way to express a general hope or wish, 빌다 implies a sense of begging or praying. Unlike these, 원하다 focuses more on the desire for an object rather than a hopeful outcome. 소원하다 and 희망하다 are more specialized, with 소원하다 often used in written contexts or when discussing deep-seated wishes and 희망하다 is a formal, more academic or professional way to say 'to hope' compared to the more common 바라다.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Jeolla province, 바리다 is frequently used instead of 바라다 to mean to wish or to hope.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
bilda
Did you know?
- While 바라다 is the standard word for 'to wish', many Koreans colloquially use the form 바래 in speech. However, this is technically a grammatical error in standard Korean and is frequently corrected by teachers and news anchors.
- The term 소원 for 'wish' is a homonym in Korean. Depending on the Chinese characters used, it can also mean 'to be distant' or 'to become estranged'.
- In Korea, people often write their 소원 or 'wish' on small colorful strips of paper and tie them to trees or fences at shrines to make the wish come true.
Examples in context
- 행운을 바랍니다.I wish you good luck.
- 행복을 기원해!I wish you happiness!
- 사랑을 소망해!I wish for love!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wish” translations and entries 빌다, 바라다, 원하다, 희망하다, 소원하다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
