Translation and Meaning of: 希望 - kibou
The Japanese word 希望 (きぼう, kibou) carries a deep and universal meaning: hope. Whether for Japanese students or those curious about the country's culture, understanding how this term is used in everyday life and its social significance can be fascinating. In this article, we will explore from the basic meaning to cultural aspects, including tips for memorizing the kanji and examples of how it appears in real contexts.
Meaning and use of 希望 in everyday Japanese.
希望 is a common word in Japanese vocabulary, often associated with desires, aspirations, and optimism about the future. Unlike simple "wishes," it implies a positive expectation, something that is confidently aimed for. For example, in job interviews, it is common to hear phrases like 希望の職種 (きぼうのしょくしゅ, kibou no shokushu), which means "the desired job type."
In addition to formal use, 希望 appears in everyday conversations, such as when someone asks 将来の希望は？ (しょうらいのきぼうは？, shourai no kibou wa?), or "what are your hopes for the future?". This flexibility makes the word essential for those who want to communicate naturally in Japanese.
Kanji and tips for memorizing 希望
The kanji 希 (ki) can be associated with "rare" or "desired," while 望 (bou) means "to hope" or "to look towards." Together, they form the idea of something valuable that is hoped to be achieved. A practical way to memorize it is to remember that 望 contains the radical for "moon" (月), which historically symbolizes desire in Asian cultures.
To reinforce writing, it is worth practicing with compound words like 希望者 (きぼうしゃ, kibousha, "candidate") or 希望校 (きぼうこう, kiboukou, "desired school"). Repeating these combinations in sentences helps internalize not only the meaning but also the context of use.
Hope in Japanese culture and media
In Japan, 希望 is a concept frequently associated with collective values, such as perseverance and resilience. After major tragedies, like the 2011 earthquake, the word was widely used in reconstruction messages, reflecting the determination of the Japanese people. This emotional aspect makes it common in public speeches and social campaigns.
In the media, 希望 appears in titles of dramas, songs, and even animes, often as the central theme of inspiring stories. A famous example is the song "Kibou no Uta" (希望の歌) by the band Flumpool, which talks about overcoming adversity. This type of content can be a great resource for learning the word in authentic contexts.
Vocabulary
Expand your vocabulary with related words:
Synonyms and similar words
- 望み (Nozomi) - Specific desire or yearning, often related to something that one hopes to achieve.
- 願い (Negai) - A wish or prayer, with a more spiritual or intense tone.
- 期待 (Kitai) - Expectation or hope regarding something that one believes will happen, usually with a positive tone.
- 予想 (Yosō) - Forecast or assumption about something that is likely to occur, often based on data or previous experiences.
- 期望 (Kibō) - Hope or expectation regarding the future, with a focus on specific goals.
- 希望するもの (Kibō suru mono) - What is desired or expected, usually referring to something or someone in particular.
Related words
motomeru
to search for; request; demand; to wish; to wish; to search for; seek (pleasure); hunt (a job)
Romaji: kibou
Kana: きぼう
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3
Translation / Meaning: hope; desire; aspiration
Meaning in English: hope;wish;aspiration
Definition: hopes and desires for the future.
Quick Access
- Vocabulary
- Writing
- Sentences
How to Write in Japanese - (希望) kibou
See below a step-by-step guide on how to write the word by hand in Japanese. (希望) kibou:
Example Sentences - (希望) kibou
See below some example sentences:
Seinen wa mirai no kibou desu
Young people are the hope for the future.
Youth is the future hope.
- 青年 (seinen) - means "young" or "youth"
- は (wa) - a grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "young person"
- 未来 (mirai) - means "future"
- の (no) - grammatical particle that indicates possession, in this case, "of the future"
- 希望 (kibou) - means "hope" or "expectation"
- です (desu) - the verb "to be" in the polite and formal form
Menkai wo kibou shimasu
I would like a personal meeting.
I would like to know.
- 面会 (menkai) - means "personal encounter" or "face-to-face meeting".
- を (wo) - Object particle in Japanese.
- 希望 (kibou) - means "hope" or "desire".
- します (shimasu) - a polite way of saying "do" in Japanese.
Fukkatsu wa kibou no hikari desu
The resurrection is the light of hope.
The resurrection is the light of hope.
- 復活 - means "resurrection" or "to revive"
- は - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
- 希望 - means "hope"
- の - grammatical particle that indicates possession or relationship
- 光 - means "light"
- です - verb "to be" in the present tense, indicating affirmation or declaration
Yōji wa mirai no kibō desu
Children are the hope of the future.
Babies are the future hope.
- 幼児 - Little child
- は - Topic particle
- 未来 - Future
- の - Possessive particle
- 希望 - hope
- です - Verb "to be" in the present
Shougakusei wa mirai no kibou desu
School-age children are the hope of the future.
Elementary school students are hopes for the future.
- 小学生 (しょうがくせい) - Elementary school student
- は - Topic particle
- 未来 (みらい) - future
- の - Possession particle
- 希望 (きぼう) - hope, expectation
- です - Verb to be/estar in the present
Kibou wa jinsei no enerugii desu
Hope is the energy of life.
Hope is the energy of life.
- 希望 (kibou) - hope
- は (wa) - Topic particle
- 人生 (jinsei) - life
- の (no) - Possession particle
- エネルギー (enerugii) - energy
- です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present
Kodomo wa mirai no kibou desu
Children are the hope of the future.
Children are the future hope.
- 子供 (Kodomo) - Child
- は (wa) - Topic particle
- 未来 (mirai) - Future
- の (no) - Possessive particle
- 希望 (kibou) - hope
- です (desu) - polite way of being
Jidou wa mirai no kibou desu
Children are the hope of the future.
Children are hope for the future.
- 児童 - kids
- は - Topic particle
- 未来 - Future
- の - Possessive particle
- 希望 - hope
- です - Verb to be/estar in the present
Hitobito no kokoro ni kibou ga tsunoru
Hope grows in people's hearts.
Hope is raised in people's hearts.
- 人々の - "pessoas" in Japanese
- 心に - "no coração" in Japanese
- 希望が - "esperança" in Japanese
- 募る - "increase, grow" in Japanese
Shounen wa mirai no kibou da
Young people are the hope for the future.
The boy is the hope of the future.
- 少年 (shounen) - a young
- は (wa) - Topic particle
- 未来 (mirai) - future
- の (no) - Possessive particle
- 希望 (kibou) - hope
- だ (da) - verb to be"
Other Words of this Type: noun
See other words from our dictionary that are also: noun
