Japanese Symbol for
希望kibō
hope · wish · aspiration
Readings
Meaning
Hope, wish, aspiration, desire. 希望 is the standard word for hope. 望 alone has a beautiful visual origin — it depicts a person standing on tiptoe, gazing at the moon with longing.
Example words
望み
nozomi
wish, desire, hope
期待
kitai
expectation, anticipation, hope
光明
kōmyō
glory, hope, bright future
絶望
zetsubō
despair (lit. "cut-off hope")
有望
yūbō
promising, hopeful
希望者
kibōsha
applicant, volunteer, person who wishes to
The antonym 絶望 (zetsubō — despair) literally means "cut off from hope" — 絶 means to sever or end. The name Nozomi (のぞみ) — one of Japan's fastest bullet train lines — comes from 望み (nozomi, hope/wish), chosen to evoke the aspiration of reaching your destination.
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