1.
long-cherished wish; heartfelt desire
a deeply held, long-standing wish or aspiration, often one that has been difficult to achieve
悲願を達成する。
To achieve a long-cherished wish.
優勝はチームの悲願だった。
Winning the championship was the team's long-cherished dream.
三十年にわたる悲願がようやく実現した。
A thirty-year-long aspiration was finally realized.
Originally a Buddhist term referring to the compassionate vow of a bodhisattva to save all beings. In modern usage, it describes a deeply held, long-standing aspiration, often one that has involved struggle or repeated failure. Commonly seen in sports reporting and political contexts.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 悲願の優勝: long-awaited championship victory
- 悲願を達成する: to achieve a long-cherished goal
- 悲願が実現する: a long-held dream comes true
- 悲願成就: fulfillment of a heartfelt wish
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 念願: long-held wish — very similar but less emotionally charged; more common in everyday speech
- 宿願: long-cherished desire — literary, emphasizes something carried for a long time
- 夢: dream — broader and less formal