1.
long-cherished wish; longtime ambition; heartfelt desire
A wish or goal that one has held for a very long time, often implying years of effort or patience toward its fulfillment.
宿願を果たす。
To fulfill a long-cherished wish.
宿願だったオリンピック出場がついに実現した。
My long-held dream of competing in the Olympics finally came true.
三十年にわたる宿願であった和平条約の締結が達成された。
The signing of the peace treaty, a goal pursued for thirty years, was achieved.
A compound of 宿 (long-standing) and 願 (wish/prayer). A literary, elevated word that emphasizes the depth and duration of a desire. Often used in formal speeches, news articles, and historical writing.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 宿願を果たす: to fulfill a long-cherished wish
- 宿願が叶う: a long-held wish comes true
- 宿願を達成する: to achieve a long-held goal
- 宿願の実現: realization of a long-cherished wish
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 悲願: earnest wish — similar formality but adds a nuance of desperate longing or repeated failed attempts
- 念願: long-cherished desire — very close in meaning; slightly more common in everyday usage
- 願望: desire, aspiration — more general and less literary