希こいねがう

こ

い

ね

が

う

Meanings

1

godan verb (-u), transitive verb

beg; implore; entreat; beseech

A formal, somewhat literary verb for earnestly requesting something from someone, often with deep feeling. Stronger than 頼む (tanomu).

彼かれは助たすけを希こいねがうように私わたしを見みつめた。
He looked at me as if imploring for help.

平へい

和わ

を

希こいねが

う

人ひと

々びと

の

声こえ

が

広ひろ

がっ

て

いる

。

The voices of people entreating for peace are spreading.

Written forms

希こいねがうUsage48%
Most common kanji spelling for this verb.
こいねがうUsage24%
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially when the kanji is not needed.
乞こい願ねがうUsage15%
Rare alternative spelling; 乞 means 'to beg'.
請こい願ねがうUsage11%
Rare alternative spelling; the kanji 請 and 願 both relate to requesting.
冀こいねがうUsage2%
Archaic spelling using classical kanji.
庶幾こいねがう
Archaic spelling using classical kanji.

Kanji

希hope, beg, request
乞beg, invite, ask
願petition, request, vow
請

Similar words

頼たのむ
頼む is the common, everyday verb for 'to ask' or 'to request'. 希う is more formal, literary, and emotionally intense.
願ねがう
願う is a general verb for 'to wish' or 'to hope'. 希う implies a stronger, more desperate plea directed at someone.

Etymology

Compound of 請い (koi, 'requesting', from 請う kou) + 願う (negau, 'to wish'). The kanji 希 is used for its meaning of 'hope' or 'rare', but the exact historical derivation is uncertain.

solicit, invite, ask

冀hope for, wish, Hebei province

庶commoner, all, bastard

幾how many, how much, how far