念 願(ねんがん)

ねんがん

noun

long-cherished wish; heart's desire

1. long-cherished wish; heart's desire; long-held dream

A wish or goal that someone has held for a long time. Used when that wish is finally fulfilled or when describing something someone has always wanted.

念願(ねんがん)の夢(ゆめ)が叶(かな)った。

My long-cherished dream came true.

念願(ねんがん)のマイホームをやっと手(て)に入(い)れた。

I finally got the home I had always dreamed of.

十年(じゅうねん)越(ご)しの念願(ねんがん)だった海外旅行(かいがいりょこう)に、ついに行(い)くことができた。

I was finally able to take the overseas trip I had been dreaming about for over ten years.

Usage

Most often used in the pattern 念願(ねんがん)の + noun, meaning "the long-desired [noun]", and also as a subject (念願(ねんがん)が叶(かな)う). The most common combination is 念願(ねんがん)の夢(ゆめ)が叶(かな)う (a long-held dream comes true). Often appears in happy announcements or celebrations.

Common collocations

念願(ねんがん)の夢(ゆめ) (long-cherished dream)
念願(ねんがん)が叶(かな)う (a long-held wish comes true)
念願(ねんがん)の優勝(ゆうしょう) (long-desired championship victory)
念願(ねんがん)だった + noun (the [noun] one had always wished for)

Similar words

悲願(ひがん): heartfelt wish — stronger and more serious; often used for groups or organizations striving toward a difficult goal
願望(がんぼう): desire, wish — more general; does not imply a long period of wanting

Related Words

Compare: 悲願(ひがん) (heartfelt wish)

Compare: 願望(がんぼう) (desire, wish)

Compare: 宿願(しゅくがん) (long-cherished wish)

general

Added 2026.3.19 18:59 · Revised 2026.10.8 11:15

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