願

Wish, Request

ねがう (negau), ねがい (negai)

JLPT N3

Interesting Fact

🙏 In the tradition of 百日詣（ひゃくにちもうで）, a person would visit the same sacred place repeatedly for 100 days while praying for a particular願（ねが）い to come true. Imagine walking the same journey every single day for more than three months because you wanted something badly enough—turning a simple wish into a test of determination.

Memory Trick

🙏 A person stands on a huge open field (原) with their hands together, making a wish. Their whole head (頁) is filled with one desperate thought: “Please make it happen!” That’s 願!