希望・冀望|きぼうkibou[0]heiban (flat)

1. noun, suru verb, transitive verbhope; wish; aspiration
   これが彼かれのたった一ひとつの希望きぼうであった。↗

   This was his one and only hope.
2. noun(bright) prospects; expectation

• Synonym志望しぼうNeutralFor the job you want or the school or company you want to enter, as in 「志望校」; limited to career and study choices, not wishes in general.
• Synonym念願ねんがんNeutralA long-cherished wish, as in 「念願のマイホーム」; stresses something you have wanted for years, often now fulfilled.
• Synonym願望がんぼうNeutralA desire held in the heart, as in 「結婚願望」; an inner craving that need not be voiced or acted on.
• Synonym望みのぞみNeutralNative-Japanese word for a wish or prospect, as in 「望みが薄い」; largely interchangeable with 「希望」 but more colloquial.
• Synonym望むのぞむNeutralVerb for hoping for or wanting something, as in 「平和を望む」; can also mean to look out over. 「希望」 is mostly a noun or 「希望する」.
• Synonym願うねがうNeutralVerb for wishing or praying for something, as in 「幸せを願う」; carries a pleading nuance, and 「お願い」 is the everyday way to make a request.
• Synonym見込みみこみNeutralA prospect or likelihood judged from the situation, as in 「回復の見込み」; it is about estimating chances, while 「希望」 is about what you want.
• Synonym念じるねんじるWrittenTo pray silently in one's heart or chant a sutra; religious tinge and rare in daily speech — say 「願う」 or 「祈る」 instead.
• Synonym期待きたいNeutralLooking forward to a good result, as in 「期待に応える」 or 「期待外れ」; centers on expecting an outcome, while 「希望」 is about what you yourself want.
• Synonym祈るいのるNeutralTo pray to the gods or wish from the heart, as in 「成功を祈る」; carries a prayer-like nuance absent from 「希望」.
• Synonym欲求よっきゅうWrittenWritten word for a desire or need seeking satisfaction, as in 「欲求不満」 or 「承認欲求」; covers needs from physical to social.
• Synonym希求ききゅうWrittenWritten word for a strong longing, as in 「平和を希求する」; found mainly in constitutions and formal declarations.
• Synonym欲するほっするWrittenWritten, classical-flavored verb for wanting, as in 「平和を欲する」; in daily speech say 「欲しい」 or 「望む」.
• Synonym願いねがいNeutralNoun for a wish or request, as in 「願いがかなう」; common in speech and more prayer-like than 「希望」.
• Synonym夢ゆめNeutralA dream or grand aspiration, as in 「夢を叶える」; often idealistic, and also covers sleep dreams and unrealistic fantasies.
• Synonym志願しがんWrittenVolunteering or applying of one's own will, as in 「志願兵」 or 「志願者」; centers on actively stepping forward, not the wish itself.
• SynonymホープNeutralLoanword mostly for a promising newcomer, as in 「期待のホープ」; seldom means hope itself.
• Synonym求めるもとめるNeutralVerb for seeking or asking for something, as in 「助けを求める」; centers on actively going after it, while 「希望」 is the wish itself.
• Synonym所望しょもうWrittenTo want something or place a request, mostly in polite phrases like 「ご所望の品」; has an old-fashioned, elegant flavor.
• Synonym念ずるねんずるWrittenOlder form of 「念じる」 with the same sense of silent prayer; even more strongly written in flavor.
• Related意欲いよくNeutralThe drive or eagerness to do something, as in 「意欲がわく」; it is about motivation, while 「希望」 is the thing you want.
• Related要望ようぼうNeutralA concrete request or demand made to someone, as in 「要望書」; directed at others, while 「希望」 can be a purely private wish.
• Related意気込みいきごみNeutralEnthusiasm and fighting spirit, as in 「意気込みを語る」; it is about determination, while 「希望」 is a wish.
• Related欲よくNeutralDesire or greed, as in 「欲が深い」; often carries a negative shade, while 「希望」 is a positive hope.
• Antonym断念だんねんWrittenAntonym: to give up a hope or plan for good, as in 「進学を断念する」; leans written.
• Antonym諦めあきらめNeutralAntonym: resignation or accepting that something won't be, as in 「諦めがつく」; the opposite of holding hope.

For a general wish or hope, use 「希望」; in casual speech 「望み」 and 「願い」 work well. Use 「志望」 for a chosen school or career, 「期待」 for looking forward to a good outcome, 「要望」 for requests made to others, and 「夢」 for a grand, idealistic dream.

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

1. 願ねがい。望のぞみ。ホープ。
2. 要望ようぼう。
3. 未来みらいが明あかるいと感かんじる気持きもち。期待きたい。楽観的らっかんてきな見通みとおし。