Explore 望 in words for hope, wishes and looking out over a view. Learn each reading in its word and context.

The idea

望 has 11 strokes; follow the linked stroke-order diagram. Read 希望（きぼう）, 望む（のぞむ）, 展望（てんぼう） and 望み（のぞみ） as whole words. 望 is ぼう in these compounds and のぞ in the verb and noun.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
希望きぼうThere is hope for the future.
望むのぞむI hope for peace.
展望てんぼうThe view from this room is wonderful.
望みのぞみMy wish came true.

Examples

  • 平和へいわを望のぞんでいます。I hope for peace.
  • 希望きぼうの日ひを教おしえてください。Please tell me your preferred date.
  • 未来みらいに希望きぼうがあります。There is hope for the future.
  • この部屋へやからの展望てんぼうはすばらしいです。The view from this room is wonderful.
  • 旅行りょこうに行いくことを望のぞんでいます。I hope to go on a trip.
  • 私わたしの望のぞみがかないました。My wish came true.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

希望 can mean a hope or a preference, as in 希望の日; 展望 can mean a view or an outlook. Do not confuse 望 with 忘, as in 忘れる.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 希望 in hiragana.

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    きぼう

    希望 is きぼう: it can express hope, as in hope for the future.

  2. Write the reading of 望む in hiragana.

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    のぞむ

    望む is のぞむ: the kanji is read のぞ and む is part of the written verb.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: 展＿（てんぼう）［望／忘］.

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    望

    望 completes 展望（てんぼう）, a view or outlook; 忘 does not form this word.

Use it today

Write 望 following the diagram. Cover the table, read 希望 and 望む, then make a sentence with one of them.