願い事 – 3 Ways to Say Wish in Japanese and the Difference Between them

The closest word for wish in Japanese is probably 願ねがい or 願い事ごと. However, wish is a word that can means different things bases on the context it is used. For that reason, there is not one straightforward word that you can use in Japanese that will perfectly match all situations that wish can be used in English.

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So, if you want to be able to express your ideas fluently and avoid awkward conversations, it is important to know when you should use which expression. No worries though, I will explain all of that below.

願い事 – Your Wish is my Command

The very first thing I personally think of when someone says wish is a Genie coming out of a lamp to grant me my wildest desires. That may not be the first thing you think of but again everyone has a different idea of what different words mean.

Anyway, if you are ever fortunate enough to come across a genie and they happen to only speak Japanese then you would use the word 願い事 to make your wish.

願い事をする
make a wish

願い事が叶かなった
my wish came true

願い – Requests and Desires

願い is the same word as 願い事 but is more broadly used. You can say 願い to talk about your wishes but also your desires wants, or even for making requests.

願いを聞きき入いれる
to accept a request

望み – Hopes and Wishes

Resources

• 願い事
• 願い
• 望み