大願|たいがんtaigan[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. noun, Buddhismambition; the Buddha's great vow (to save all people)

• Synonym大志たいしNeutralGrand ambition, often of the young setting their course in life, as in 「少年よ大志を抱け」. Neutral in tone; unlike 「大願」 it carries no sense of a vow or prayer.
• Synonym大望たいもうWrittenA grand aspiration, close to 「大願」 in scale but written in tone and free of religious coloring. Use it for lofty aims in formal prose, not for vows or prayers.
• Synonym雄心ゆうしんWrittenA valiant, heroic fighting spirit behind an ambition. Written and very rare; it stresses boldness of spirit rather than the solemn, prayer-like wish of 「大願」.
• Synonym雄志ゆうしWrittenLofty, heroic ambition. Written and very rare; like 「雄心」 it highlights boldness of spirit, not the solemn vow or prayer that 「大願」 can suggest.
• Related宿願しゅくがんWrittenA wish held for many years, with the emphasis on time, as in 「宿願を果たす」. Written in tone; use it for a long-cherished wish rather than a grand, solemn one.
• Related夢ゆめNeutralThe everyday word for a dream or aspiration, big or small, with no solemn coloring. In daily conversation it replaces 「大願」, which sounds weighty and formal.
• Related志こころざしNeutralAn ambition one has resolved on, stressing will and determination. Neutral in tone; it names a personal resolve rather than the grand, solemn wish of 「大願」.
• Related野心やしんNeutralAmbition, often with a restless, pejorative edge, though it can also be a bold drive, e.g. to break new artistic ground. 「大願」 by contrast is solemn and admirable.
• Related野望やぼうNeutralAn ambition that overreaches one's abilities, more strongly negative than 「野心」. Neutral in register yet pejorative, unlike the solemn 「大願」.
• Related宿望しゅくぼうWrittenA long-cherished wish, much like 「宿願」 but used less often. Written in tone; it stresses a wish held over the years, not the grandeur or solemnity of 「大願」.

In everyday speech, say 「夢」 for dreams big or small. Keep 「大願」 for a solemn grand wish or prayer, as in 「大願成就」. Use 「宿願」 for a wish long cherished and 「大志」 for a grand ambition, often a young person's. 「宿望」 and 「大望」 are written-style alternatives, 「雄心」 and 「雄志」 very rare literary words, 「志」 stresses resolve, while 「野心」 and 「野望」 are ambition with a negative shade.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 大おおきな願ねがい。
2. 仏ふつが衆生しゅじょうを救すくおうとする誓願せいがん。