yuànwàng: 愿望 - Wish, Aspiration, Desire

• Keywords: yuànwàng, yuanwang, 愿望, Chinese for wish, how to say desire in Chinese, hope in Chinese, aspiration in Chinese, make a wish in Chinese, Chinese vocabulary, HSK 4
• Summary: Learn the Chinese word 愿望 (yuànwàng), a noun that means a heartfelt wish, desire, or aspiration. More profound than a simple “want,” `愿望` is used for significant hopes, such as birthday wishes, New Year's resolutions, or lifelong dreams. This guide breaks down its cultural meaning, practical usage, and distinguishes it from similar words like `希望 (xīwàng)` and `梦想 (mèngxiǎng)`, providing everything a learner needs to master this important HSK 4 term.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yuànwàng
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A wish, a strong desire, or an aspiration.
• In a Nutshell: Think of `愿望` as the kind of wish you make when you blow out birthday candles or see a shooting star. It's not for trivial, everyday wants like “I want a coffee.” Instead, it represents a deeper, more significant hope or goal. It carries a sense of longing and importance, referring to something you truly hope to achieve or see happen for yourself or others.

• 愿 (yuàn): This character is composed of 原 (yuán - original, source) and 心 (xīn - heart). Together, they beautifully illustrate the concept of a desire that comes from the “source of the heart.” It signifies a sincere, deep-seated wish.
• 望 (wàng): This character depicts a person (originally 壬) standing on a high place looking at the moon (月). It means “to gaze into the distance,” “to look forward to,” or “to hope.” It evokes a feeling of looking towards a future goal with anticipation.

When combined, 愿望 (yuànwàng) literally translates to a “heart-wish to gaze upon.” This powerful combination captures the essence of a deep, heartfelt desire that one looks forward to fulfilling.

In Chinese culture, expressing a `愿望` is often a key part of ceremonies and significant life moments. It's a more formal and solemn concept than the casual English “wish.”

• Significant Events: `愿望` is central to birthdays (making a wish before blowing out candles), Chinese New Year (wishes for prosperity and health for the coming year), and even festivals like the Lantern Festival where wishes are written on lanterns and released into the sky.
• Contrast with Western “Wish”: While an English speaker might say, “I wish it would stop raining,” this would be an inappropriate use of `愿望`. The Chinese equivalent for such a casual hope is `希望 (xīwàng)`. `愿望` is reserved for more profound aspirations, like “My greatest wish is for my parents to be healthy” (我最大的愿望是父母身体健康). It aligns more closely with the English “aspiration” or “heart's desire.”
• Family and Collective Values: Often, a `愿望` is not purely individualistic. Parents hold strong wishes for their children's success and happiness, and children have wishes for their parents' well-being. This reflects the importance of family and collective good within Chinese culture.

`愿望` is a common word used in both formal and informal contexts, as long as the desire being expressed is significant.

• Making a Wish: In situations like a birthday party, someone will say “许个愿吧 (xǔ ge yuàn ba)” - “Make a wish!”
• Expressing Life Goals: People use it to talk about their career aspirations, dreams for their family, or personal life goals. For example, “My childhood wish was to become a doctor.”
• Greetings and Well Wishes: During holidays, especially New Year, people share their `愿望` for the upcoming year and wish others that their `愿望` will come true.
• Connotation: The connotation is overwhelmingly positive and sincere. It speaks to a person's hopes and dreams.

• Example 1:
  • 在你生日的时候，你可以许一个愿望。
  • Pinyin: Zài nǐ shēngrì de shíhòu, nǐ kěyǐ xǔ yī ge yuànwàng.
  • English: You can make a wish on your birthday.
  • Analysis: This is a classic, common usage. The verb `许 (xǔ)` is almost always paired with `愿望` to mean “to make a wish.”
• Example 2:
  • 我最大的愿望就是家人都健康快乐。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zuìdà de yuànwàng jiùshì jiārén dōu jiànkāng kuàilè.
  • English: My biggest wish is for my family to be healthy and happy.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the heartfelt and often family-oriented nature of a `愿望`.
• Example 3:
  • 他终于实现了去中国留学的愿望。
  • Pinyin: Tā zhōngyú shíxiàn le qù Zhōngguó liúxué de yuànwàng.
  • English: He finally fulfilled his dream of studying abroad in China.
  • Analysis: The verb `实现 (shíxiàn)` means “to realize” or “to achieve,” and is often used with `愿望` to describe the fulfillment of a long-held desire.
• Example 4:
  • 我的新年愿望是找到一份好工作。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de xīnnián yuànwàng shì zhǎodào yī fèn hǎo gōngzuò.
  • English: My New Year's wish (resolution) is to find a good job.
  • Analysis: This shows how `愿望` is used for future goals, similar to a “New Year's resolution.”
• Example 5:
  • 世界和平是许多人的共同愿望。
  • Pinyin: Shìjiè hépíng shì xǔduō rén de gòngtóng yuànwàng.
  • English: World peace is the common aspiration of many people.
  • Analysis: This example demonstrates that a `愿望` can be a grand, shared aspiration.
• Example 6:
  • 你的愿望是什么？告诉我吧。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ de yuànwàng shì shénme? Gàosù wǒ ba.
  • English: What is your wish? Tell me.
  • Analysis: A simple and direct question used to ask someone about their deep desire, often in a personal and caring context.
• Example 7:
  • 成为一名宇航员是我儿时的愿望。
  • Pinyin: Chéngwéi yī míng yǔhángyuán shì wǒ érshí de yuànwàng.
  • English: Becoming an astronaut was my childhood wish.
  • Analysis: `儿时的愿望 (érshí de yuànwàng)` is a common phrase for a “childhood dream.”
• Example 8:
  • 祝你所有的愿望都能成真。
  • Pinyin: Zhù nǐ suǒyǒu de yuànwàng dōu néng chéng zhēn.
  • English: I wish that all of your dreams come true.
  • Analysis: A very common and kind blessing to give someone. `成真 (chéng zhēn)` means “to become real” or “to come true.”
• Example 9:
  • 尽管生活很困难，她从未放弃自己的愿望。
  • Pinyin: Jǐnguǎn shēnghuó hěn kùnnán, tā cóngwèi fàngqì zìjǐ de yuànwàng.
  • English: Although life was difficult, she never gave up on her aspiration.
  • Analysis: This sentence emphasizes the resilience and determination associated with pursuing a `愿望`.
• Example 10:
  • 看到孩子们开心的笑脸，就是我这个老师的愿望。
  • Pinyin: Kàndào háizimen kāixīn de xiàoliǎn, jiùshì wǒ zhège lǎoshī de yuànwàng.
  • English: Seeing the children's happy smiling faces is my wish as a teacher.
  • Analysis: Shows how a `愿望` can be a simple, yet profound, professional or personal satisfaction.

The most common mistake for learners is confusing `愿望` with `希望 (xīwàng)` and `想 (xiǎng)`.

• 愿望 (yuànwàng) vs. 希望 (xīwàng):
  • `愿望` is a noun for a specific, significant desire or aspiration. (e.g., My wish is…)
  • `希望 (xīwàng)` can be a noun (hope) or a verb (to hope). It's more general and can be used for everyday situations.
  • Incorrect: 我愿望你明天会来。 (Wǒ yuànwàng nǐ míngtiān huì lái.) - `愿望` is a noun, it cannot be used as a verb here.
  • Correct: 我希望你明天会来。 (Wǒ xīwàng nǐ míngtiān huì lái.) - I hope you will come tomorrow.
  • Correct: 我有一个愿望，就是去月球旅行。(Wǒ yǒu yī ge yuànwàng, jiùshì qù yuèqiú lǚxíng.) - I have a wish, which is to travel to the moon.
• 愿望 (yuànwàng) vs. 想 (xiǎng):
  • `想 (xiǎng)` means “to want” in a simple, direct, and often immediate way. It's used for everyday needs and wants.
  • Using `愿望` for a simple want sounds overly dramatic and strange.
  • Incorrect: 我的愿望是一杯咖啡。 (Wǒ de yuànwàng shì yī bēi kāfēi.)
  • Correct: 我想要一杯咖啡。 (Wǒ xiǎng yào yī bēi kāfēi.) - I want a cup of coffee.

• 希望 (xīwàng) - Can mean “to hope” (verb) or “hope” (noun). It's more general and common than `愿望`.
• 梦想 (mèngxiǎng) - “Dream” or “(to) dream of.” Often refers to a grand, long-term life ambition that requires significant effort, like a career dream.
• 理想 (lǐxiǎng) - “Ideal.” This refers to a perfect standard or ultimate goal, often related to one's career, society, or life philosophy. It's more abstract and principled than `愿望`.
• 心愿 (xīnyuàn) - “Heart's wish.” Very similar to `愿望`, but emphasizes that the wish comes from the heart. It's often used for personal, cherished, and sometimes secret wishes.
• 祝福 (zhùfú) - “Blessing” or “well wishes.” This is what you give to others, often in the hope that their `愿望` will be fulfilled.
• 实现 (shíxiàn) - “To realize,” “to achieve,” “to fulfill.” The verb used when a `愿望` or `梦想` comes true.
• 许愿 (xǔyuàn) - “To make a wish.” A verb-object phrase (`许` is the verb, `愿` is the object) that is the action of making a `愿望`.