wish

/wɪʃ/ (bre, ipa) · /wɪʃ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈwish/ (ame, mw)

wish — verb

  • wishpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • wisheshe / she / it
  • wishedpast simple
  • wishing-ing form

1. to say or think that you want a current situation to be different, because you a

1.動詞不及物B1
釋義

to say or think that you want a current situation to be different, because you are not happy with things as they are now

例句

Eshe wishes she knew how to play the guitar like her brother.

wish + past simple for present regret

I wish I did not have to wake up so early every day.

同義詞
  • long for

    more emotional and intense than 'wish'; suggests deep, ongoing desire

  • yearn for

    literary or formal; implies strong, wistful longing over time

反義詞

文法句型

wish + (that) + past simple

用法筆記

Always uses past simple (not present tense) after 'wish' — for example, 'I wish I were...' not 'I wish I am...'. The past form signals that the situation is unreal or opposite to reality.

常見錯誤

❌I wish I am taller.
✅I wish I were taller.
💡after 'wish', use past tense (or 'were' for 'be') to show the situation is not real.
❌I wish I can fly.
✅I wish I could fly.
💡use past modal 'could' instead of 'can' after 'wish'.

2. to feel sorry that something happened or did not happen in the past, and to want

2.動詞不及物B1
釋義

to feel sorry that something happened or did not happen in the past, and to want it to have been different

例句

Chidi wishes he had studied harder for the final exam last semester.

wish + past perfect for past regret

I wish I had not lent my car to my cousin that weekend.

同義詞
  • regret

    stronger and more direct than 'wish'; focuses on the feeling of being sorry, not the desire for a different past

文法句型

wish + (that) + past perfect

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1 (REGRET PRESENT): sense 2 uses past perfect ('had + past participle') to refer to a past action, while sense 1 uses past simple for a present situation. The same sentence structure difference tells the two apart.

常見錯誤

❌I wish I studied harder yesterday.
✅I wish I had studied harder yesterday.
💡for past-time regret, use past perfect ('had studied') not past simple.
❌He wishes he didn't say that to his boss.
✅He wishes he hadn't said that to his boss.
💡use 'hadn't' for completed past actions.

3. to want or desire to do something, especially in a polite or formal way — simila

3.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to want or desire to do something, especially in a polite or formal way — similar to wanting something very much

例句

The customer wishes to speak directly to the store manager.

formal: wish + to-infinitive

If you wish to join the hiking club, please sign up before Friday.

同義詞
  • want

    less formal and more common in everyday speech than 'wish to'

  • desire

    more formal and intense than 'wish'; expresses strong wanting

反義詞
  • refuse

    to state clearly that you do not want to do something

文法句型

wish + to-infinitive

wish + object + adjective/complement

用法筆記

Common in formal notices, polite requests, and official contexts. In everyday conversation, 'want to' or 'would like to' is more natural than 'wish to'. The structure 'wish + object + adjective' (e.g. 'wish it finished') is also formal.

常見錯誤

❌I wish to go to the bathroom' (in casual speech).
✅I'd like to go to the bathroom
💡'wish to' sounds stiff in casual conversation; use 'want to' or 'would like to' instead.

4. to say that someone's behaviour annoys or frustrates you, and you want them to c

4.動詞不及物B2
釋義

to say that someone's behaviour annoys or frustrates you, and you want them to change what they are doing

例句

I wish you would stop tapping your pen on the table during the meeting.

wish + would for irritation at repeated action

Mira wishes her neighbours would not play loud music after midnight.

同義詞
  • want someone to stop

    more direct and less idiomatic; used in commands or requests rather than complaints

文法句型

wish + (that) + subject + would + verb

用法筆記

Uses 'would' to express irritation about a repeated or ongoing behaviour. The person being spoken about is usually capable of stopping the behaviour, which is why the speaker feels frustrated. If the situation cannot be changed, use sense 1 (REGRET PRESENT) instead.

常見錯誤

❌I wish it would stop raining' (when complaining about weather, which cannot be controlled).
✅I wish it would stop raining' is actually acceptable for weather too, but careful: with uncontrollable situations, sense 1 ('I wish it weren't raining') is more precise for expressing regret rather than irritation at someone's behaviour.

5. to tell someone you want them to experience joy, good fortune, or achievement on

5.動詞及物B1
釋義

to tell someone you want them to experience joy, good fortune, or achievement on a special day or in a particular situation

例句

Please wish your grandmother a happy birthday from all of us.

wish + someone + noun phrase

We all wished the bride and groom a long and joyful marriage.

同義詞
  • hope you have

    less direct than 'wish'; states the hope rather than expressing it as a greeting

文法句型

wish + someone + something

用法筆記

Ditransitive — always takes two objects: the person (indirect object) and the desired outcome (direct object). Common fixed phrases: 'wish someone well', 'wish someone luck', 'wish someone a happy birthday'.

常見錯誤

❌I wish you happy birthday.
✅I wish you a happy birthday.
💡'birthday' needs the article 'a' before it.
❌I wished him that he recovers.
✅I wished him a speedy recovery.
💡use a noun phrase, not a clause, after the person.

6. to place the adverb 'well' — or very rarely 'ill' — directly after the person's

6.動詞及物B2
釋義

to place the adverb 'well' — or very rarely 'ill' — directly after the person's name, signalling that you want their efforts or journey to succeed (or, in rare cases, to fail)

例句

We all wish you well in your new job at the hospital.

fixed phrase: wish someone well

No matter what happens, I wish you well on your journey ahead.

同義詞

文法句型

wish + someone + well/ill

用法筆記

The core pattern is 'wish someone well'. The opposite 'wish someone ill' exists but is very rare and strongly disapproved in modern use. This sense overlaps with sense 5 (WELL WISHES) but uses an adverb ('well') instead of a noun phrase.

7. to hope very strongly that something you desire will come true, often by making

7.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to hope very strongly that something you desire will come true, often by making a silent request to luck, a star, or an imagined magical force

例句

The little girl closed her eyes and wished for a pony for her birthday.

wish + for + desired thing

Make a wish before you blow out all the candles on the cake.

fixed phrase: make a wish

同義詞
  • hope for

    less magical; does not carry the superstitious or ritual connotation of 'wish upon a star'

文法句型

wish + for + something

wish + that + something + would happen

wish + upon

用法筆記

Often used with 'make' as 'make a wish', especially in contexts like birthday candles, shooting stars, or wishing wells. 'Wish for' specifies the desired thing. 'Wish upon' is tied to folklore (stars, wells, etc.).

常見錯誤

❌I wished a new bicycle.
✅I wished for a new bicycle.
💡with the magical/desire sense, use 'wish for' + the thing, not 'wish' + direct object.

8. to say a polite greeting or farewell to someone using words like good morning, g

8.動詞及物B1
釋義

to say a polite greeting or farewell to someone using words like good morning, good night, or goodbye

例句

The doorman wished every guest good evening as they entered the hotel.

wish + someone + time-of-day greeting

Sven wished his colleagues goodbye before leaving for the airport.

同義詞
  • bid

    archaic or very formal; 'wish' is the normal modern word for this meaning

文法句型

wish + someone + good morning/afternoon/evening

用法筆記

Follows the same ditransitive pattern as senses 5 and 6 (wish + someone + greeting). The greeting is typically a time-of-day phrase ('good morning', 'good night') or a polite wish ('a safe journey', 'a pleasant stay').

wish — noun