願 望(がんぼう)

がんぼう

noun

desire, wish

1. desire, wish, longing

A strong feeling of wanting something or wishing for something to happen.

強(つよ)い願望(がんぼう)を持(も)つ。

To have a strong desire.

願望(がんぼう)を叶(かな)えるために努力(どりょく)する。

I work hard to fulfill my wishes.

海外(かいがい)留学(りゅうがく)は長年(ながねん)の願望(がんぼう)だった。

Studying abroad was a long-held desire of mine.

彼(かれ)には出世(しゅっせ)への強(つよ)い願望(がんぼう)がある。

He has a strong desire for career advancement.

子供(こども)の頃(ころ)からの願望(がんぼう)がやっと叶(かな)って、自分(じぶん)の店(みせ)を開(ひら)くことができた。

My childhood wish finally came true, and I was able to open my own shop.

願望(がんぼう) refers to a deep, heartfelt wish or desire — something one earnestly hopes for. It carries a more personal and emotional tone than 希望(きぼう).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

願望(がんぼう)を持(も)つ: to have a desire
願望(がんぼう)を叶(かな)える: to fulfill a wish
強(つよ)い願望(がんぼう): strong desire
潜在的(せんざいてき)願望(がんぼう): latent/subconscious desire
長年(ながねん)の願望(がんぼう): a long-held desire

SIMILAR WORDS:

希望(きぼう): hope, wish (more neutral and practical; used for requests and applications)
欲望(よくぼう): desire, lust (often negative; implies greed or excessive want)
望(のぞ)み: wish, desire (literary and poetic)
願(ねが)い: wish, request (everyday; also used for prayers and formal requests)

REGISTER:
Slightly literary. More common in written language, psychology (願望(がんぼう)充足(じゅうそく) = wish fulfillment), and formal speech than in casual conversation.

Related Words

Synonym: 欲望(よくぼう) (desire (stronger))

Related: 願(ねが)い (wish, request)

core

Added 2026.1.16 11:32 · Revised 2026.6.4 23:08

05000/05085_ganbou