願う · godan verb (-u)
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 願う | 願わない |
| Polite | 願います | 願いません |
| Past polite | 願いました | 願いませんでした |
| Past | 願った | 願わなかった |
| Te-form | 願って | 願わないで |
| Desire | 願いたい | 願いたくない |
| Potential | 願える | 願えない |
| Passive | 願われる | 願われない |
| Causative | 願わせる | 願わせない |
| Causative passive | 願わせられるalso 願わされる | 願わせられないalso 願わされない |
| Volitional | 願おう | |
| Polite volitional | 願いましょう | |
| Imperative | 願え | 願うな |
| Conditional | 願えば | 願わなければ |
| Tara conditional | 願ったら | 願わなかったら |
godan verb (-u), transitive verb
Used with an object such as success, happiness, peace, or someone's safety. It often sounds more earnest or elevated than simply saying 欲しい or そう思う.
I wish for my child's happiness.
Many people hope for world peace.
godan verb (-u), transitive verb
Used when asking for help, cooperation, forgiveness, or permission, often in a formal, earnest, or written style. 願います is common in announcements and polite requests.
We ask for everyone's cooperation.
He bowed deeply and begged for forgiveness.
godan verb (-u), transitive verb
pray for; ask in prayer
When used with a shrine, deity, or similar religious setting, it means to pray or make a wish for something.
She prayed at the shrine to pass the exam.
godan verb (-u), auxiliary verb
please do; have someone do; request that someone do
Auxiliary-like use in formal request patterns such as お待ち願います and ご記入願います. It asks the other person to do something, usually for the speaker, group, or procedure.
Please wait a moment.
Please fill out this form.
She always wishes for her family's happiness.
I prayed for good health at the shrine.
I formally requested permission from my boss.
Please fill this in here.
頼む is the everyday word for asking someone directly for a favor, while 願う sounds more formal, earnest, or announcement-like when making a request.
願う is the common, neutral verb for wishing or requesting, while 請う is more formal and often appears in set phrases or earnest pleading.
願う sounds similar to 狙う and both relate to desire, but 願う means to wish or hope for something, not to actively aim at or target it.
withdraw a request; cancel a petition
entreat; beseech; implore