Translation guide
Expressing a desire for a different reality, often with regret or longing. Japanese uses various patterns depending on whether the wish is about the past, present, or future, and whether it is realistic or hypothetical.
I wish I had more money.
Present contrary-to-fact wish
Expressing a desire for a current situation to be different, often with regret.
A common pattern for wishing something were the case now. Attach to the conditional form of verbs/adjectives. Often implies frustration or longing.
I wish I had more money.
I wish he were here.
Similar to 〜ばいいのに, but uses the たら conditional. Slightly more colloquial.
I wish tomorrow were a day off.
A more formal or written pattern. が at the end softens the statement, often leaving the wish unfulfilled.
I wish the rain would stop.
Expressing regret or a desire for a past event to have been different.
The standard way to say 'I wish I had done something.' Attach to the conditional form of verbs.
Expressing a hope or desire for a future event, often with a sense of longing.
Casual, friendly way to express a wish for the future. Often used when talking to oneself or close friends.
Expressing a wish that another person would act in a certain way.
Directly expresses wanting someone to do something. Can sound demanding if not softened.
Expressing a wish that is clearly impossible or purely imaginary.
Used for hypothetical or counterfactual wishes. なら sets up a condition that is not true.
All three can express a wish, but they differ slightly in nuance. 〜ばいい is more formal and often used in writing. 〜たらいい is more colloquial and common in speech. 〜といい is neutral and can be used in both casual and polite contexts. For past regrets, only 〜ばよかった and 〜たらよかった are used.
I wish the rain would stop. (slightly formal)
I wish I had studied more.
I wish I had told him the truth.
Colloquial version of 〜ばよかった. Very common in spoken Japanese.
I wish I had bought it then.
For wishing you hadn't done something. Negative conditional form + よかった.
I wish I hadn't said such a thing.
I wish it would be sunny tomorrow.
I wish he would come.
Similar to 〜といいな, but with a conditional nuance. Slightly more hypothetical.
I wish I could win the lottery.
Colloquial version of 〜ばいいな. Very common in casual speech.
I wish summer vacation would come soon.
I wish he would be kinder to me.
A softer, more indirect way to wish someone would do something. Implies it's unlikely.
I wish you would help me.
I wish I were a bird.
I wish I had more time.
Colloquial version of 〜ならいいのに. Very common in spoken Japanese.
I wish I were rich.
雨がやんだらいいのに。
I wish the rain would stop. (colloquial)
I hope the rain stops. (neutral)
Do not translate 'I wish' directly as 私は願う or 私は望む. These sound unnatural and overly formal in most contexts. Use the patterns above instead.
I wish he would come. (unnatural, too literal)