Hope in Japanese
"hope" in Japanese, with the kanji that carry the meaning.
3 Japanese kanji carry the meaning "hope". The most common choice is shown first.
Which one to use
希望 (kibō) is hope. 望 is to hope and to gaze into the distance, and it also names the full moon. 希 is rare and also to hope for — the two senses meet in wanting something uncommon. 願 is a wish made, as at a shrine.
Top pick
ambition, full moon, hope, desire, aspire to, expect
Reading: bou
11 strokes · mysterious, nature
Where it comes from
Composed of perish, moon, and king. King hoping for moon.
What it carries
Hope, wish, desire. Represents hoping.
Related kanji for "hope"
hope
ki · spiritual
Shape of cloth and crossing threads. Rare textile.
hope
gan
Composed of original and head. Original wish of mind.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Japanese kanji for hope?
The most common kanji for "hope" is 望, read as bou. It means ambition, full moon, hope. Related kanji: 希 (hope), 願 (hope).
How many strokes does 望 have?
望 has 11 strokes.