English–Japanese

“long-held wish” in Japanese

Japanese

Pronunciation

Romajinengan

Example

長年の念願がかないました。naga nen no nen gan ga ka na i ma shi ta

My long-held wish came true.

Illustration for 念願 (long-held wish)

How to say “long-held wish” in Japanese

“Long-held wish” in Japanese is 念願 (nengan).

Describes a wish that has remained in one's mind for a long time and is strongly hoped for.

Full entry for 念願: usage tips, similar words and word origin

Example sentences with 念願

彼は念願の海外留学を実現しました。kare wa nen gan no kai gai ryū gaku o jitsu gen shi ma shi ta

He made his long-held wish to study abroad a reality.

Tips for using 念願

  • 念願 (nengan) is stronger and more formal than 願い (negai), often describing a goal pursued for years rather than a passing desire.

“long-held wish” in other languages