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JAPANESE VERB

ねがう

願う

to wish for, to pray for

  • #240 most used
  • Godan verb (u-verb)

Conjugation

Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.

Present and future

now, habits, and what is to come

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI wish for
NegativeI don’t wish for

Past

finished actions

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI wished for
NegativeI didn’t wish for

Te-form

て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests

Form Polite Plain
て-formwishing for, and…
Doing now (て います)I am wishing for
Please (て ください)please wish for

Potential

可能形 · “can”

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI can wish for
NegativeI can’t wish for

Want to

たい形 · “want to”

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI want to wish for
NegativeI don’t want to wish for

Volitional

意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”

Form Polite Plain
Let’slet’s wish for

Conditional

条件形 · “if” and “when”

  1. If (ば) if I wish for
  2. If, when (たら) if I wish for

Commands and requests

命令形 · from gentle to blunt

  1. Do it (なさい) wish for (do it)
  2. Plain command wish for!
  3. Please don’t please don’t wish for

Passive and causative

受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”

Form Polite Plain
PassiveI am wished for
CausativeI make someone wish for

How to use ねがう

One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.

  1. Present and future

    まいとし じんじゃ で かぞく の けんこう を ねがいます。

    Every year at the shrine I pray for my family's health.

  2. Past

    ほし に いい ねん を ねがった。

    I wished on a star for a good year.

  3. Te-form

    ベン の せいこう を ねがって います。

    I'm hoping for Ben's success.

  4. Potential

    ここ で は なん で も ねがえます よ。

    You can wish for anything here.

  5. Want to

    みんな の しあわせ を ねがいたい。

    I want to wish for everyone's happiness.

  6. Volitional

    おてら で いい いちねん を ねがおう。

    Let's pray for a good year at the temple.

  7. Conditional

    つよく ねがえば、 ゆめ は かないます。

    If you wish hard, dreams come true.

  8. Commands and requests

    め を とじて、 ねがいなさい。

    Close your eyes and make a wish.

  9. Passive and causative

    けんた は みんな に せいこう を ねがわれて います。

    Everyone is wishing Kenta success.

Good to know

  • おねがい します comes from ねがう: "I ask it of you", said when you order or ask a favour.

Where you hear ねがう

The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.

Japanese · Beginner Level 2

  • みんな の しあわせ を ねがいます。 I wish for everyone's happiness.
  • じんじゃ で いい いちねん を ねがいました。 I prayed for a good year at the shrine.
  • あした も、 かぞく の しあわせ を ねがいます。 Tomorrow I'll wish for my family's happiness again.
30
Another Year

Beginner Level 2 · ねがいます

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Verbs like this one

The same pattern, on other verbs: godan verb (u-verb).