wishes
[wˈɪʃɪz] /ˈwish How to pronounce wish (audio)/ (ame, mw)
wishes — verb
- wishespresent simple I / you / we / they
- wisheses3rd person singular
- wishesing-ing form
- wishesedpast simple
1. to say that you are unhappy with the way things are right now and want them to b
to say that you are unhappy with the way things are right now and want them to be different
Reema wishes she spoke Mandarin more fluently, but she still makes many mistakes.
wish + past simple (spoke) for present regret
Caio wishes he did not have to work on Saturday mornings.
Pedro wishes he were tall enough to reach the top shelf without help.
Linh wishes the bus came more often on public holidays.
- if only
stronger and more emotional; often used alone or at the start of a sentence
文法句型
wish + (that) + subject + past simple
用法筆記
The verb after wish is in past simple form, even though the feeling is about the present. 'I wish I knew' means 'I do not know now, but I want to.' For the verb 'be', use 'were' for all subjects in formal English.
常見錯誤
2. to feel sorry that something happened or did not happen in the past, and want it
to feel sorry that something happened or did not happen in the past, and want it to be different
Tendai wishes he had studied harder before the final exam.
wish + past perfect (had studied) for past regret
Gabriel wishes he had not lent his bicycle to a stranger.
Obi wishes he had taken his mother's advice about saving money.
Sahil wishes he had not deleted the old photos from his phone.
- if only
stronger and more emotional; can be used in the same past perfect pattern
文法句型
wish + (that) + subject + past perfect
用法筆記
The verb after wish is in past perfect form (had + past participle), showing the regret refers to the past. 'I wish I had gone' means 'I did not go, and I am sorry about it.'
常見錯誤
3. to want something to happen or to be true, especially when it is not simple or e
to want something to happen or to be true, especially when it is not simple or easy to achieve
Hyun wishes to apply for a scholarship at Seoul National University next year.
wish + to-infinitive (wish to apply)
Dewi wishes the committee to reconsider her proposal before the deadline.
wish + object + to-infinitive
Meera wishes to meet the director and discuss her research project.
I wish to travel to South Korea next year to learn Korean cooking.
- want
less formal and much more common in everyday speech
- desire
more formal and sounds stronger or more literary
- would like
polite and natural in everyday requests
文法句型
wish + to-infinitive
wish + [person/thing] + to-infinitive
用法筆記
This sense is more formal than 'want'. In everyday conversation, 'want' is much more common. 'Wish to do something' is typical in letters, official requests, and polite announcements.
常見錯誤
4. used to show that you are annoyed or impatient with someone's behaviour and want
used to show that you are annoyed or impatient with someone's behaviour and want it to change
Hugo wishes his neighbour would stop playing loud music after midnight.
wish + would + base verb for annoyance about behaviour
Anna wishes her younger brother would not interrupt her during online classes.
Minho wishes his roommate would wash the dishes after cooking dinner.
Emre wishes people would not talk loudly on the phone in the library.
Eliska wishes her neighbours would keep their dog quiet at night.
- if only
stronger and more emotional, works in the same pattern
文法句型
wish + (that) + subject + would + base verb
用法筆記
With 'would', the subject is usually another person whose action is bothering you. This structure is not used with 'I' as the subject of 'would' — you cannot say 'I wish I would...' to complain about your own behaviour.
常見錯誤
5. to sincerely express hope that someone receives a specific benefit, such as good
to sincerely express hope that someone receives a specific benefit, such as good luck, success, or happiness, often on a special occasion
Zayd's grandmother called to wish him a happy birthday.
wish + [person] + [noun phrase] for celebrations
Emma's colleagues wished her good luck before her job interview.
Brooke wishes her friend a safe journey every time he flies abroad.
Jabari wished his teammate a speedy recovery after the football match.
文法句型
wish + [person] + [noun phrase]
用法筆記
This sense is followed by an indirect object (the person) and a direct object (the good thing you hope for). Common patterns: 'wish someone a happy birthday', 'wish someone luck', 'wish someone well'.
常見錯誤
6. to think about something you would like to happen, and hope it will come true, e
to think about something you would like to happen, and hope it will come true, especially through luck or magic
Greta closed her eyes and wished for a puppy for her birthday.
wish for + [noun] when hoping through luck or magic
Rafael blew out his birthday candles and wished for his family's health.
Kenji threw a coin into the fountain and wished for good luck on his exams.
Adina wished upon a shooting star that she would see her cousin again.
- make a wish
a set phrase specifically tied to these rituals
文法句型
wish (for + noun phrase)
wish + that-clause (for magical outcomes)
用法筆記
This sense is tied to rituals like birthday candles, shooting stars, or wishing wells. The structure 'wish for + noun' specifies what you want. 'Wish + that-clause' is also common for describing the desired outcome.
7. to greet someone or say goodbye by expressing good wishes, for example bidding t
to greet someone or say goodbye by expressing good wishes, for example bidding them a warm welcome or wishing them a pleasant journey
The principal wished the new students a warm welcome at the school assembly.
wish + [person] + [a warm welcome] for greetings
As she left the dinner party, Mei wished everyone goodbye and thanked the host.
wish + goodbye — farewell pattern
The tour guide wished us a pleasant journey as the bus departed from the hotel.
Uncle Ken always wishes us farewell at the gate whenever we visit his farm.
文法句型
wish + [person] + [noun phrase]
用法筆記
This sense uses the pattern wish + [person] + [greeting/farewell noun phrase]. Common phrases include "wish someone a warm welcome", "wish someone goodbye", and "wish someone farewell". It differs from sense 5, which focuses on expressing hope for someone to receive a specific benefit like luck or happiness.
常見錯誤
8. to give an instruction or express a requirement in a formal way, often as someon
to give an instruction or express a requirement in a formal way, often as someone in a position of authority
The ambassador wished to speak with the prime minister privately before the meeting.
wish + to-infinitive for polite formal request
The director wished the annual report to be finished by Friday afternoon.
wish + [person/object] + to-infinitive
The judge wished the witness to describe exactly what she saw on the night of the incident.
The CEO wished all department heads to submit their reports by Friday afternoon.
文法句型
wish + to-infinitive
wish + [person] + to-infinitive
用法筆記
This sense is more formal than 'want' and is common in written or official communication. It can also be used with a that-clause in very formal British English ('I wish that the matter be resolved promptly').
常見錯誤
9. to want something unpleasant to happen to someone, often used in negative senten
to want something unpleasant to happen to someone, often used in negative sentences to say that you would never want that even for someone you dislike
I would not wish that kind of pain on anyone, not even my worst enemy.
negative form: would not wish + [something] + on + [person]
Nila could never wish harm upon her colleagues, no matter how difficult the project became.
No parent would wish such a lonely childhood on their own child.
Emma said she would never wish a harsh manager on even her worst rival.
文法句型
wish + [something] + on/upon + [person]
用法筆記
Almost always used in negative or hypothetical contexts with 'would not' or 'never'. The pattern 'wish [something] on/upon [someone]' nearly always refers to something bad.
常見錯誤
wishes — noun
1. a strong feeling that you want something to happen or to have something, even if
a strong feeling that you want something to happen or to have something, even if it may not be possible right now
Yumi expressed a strong wish to study traditional dance in Bali next year.
wish + to-infinitive for wanting an action
Kwame's wish for peace in his hometown kept him working as a community leader.
wish + for + noun phrase
Lin fought back tears, unable to put her deepest wish into words.
Santiago confessed his secret wish to learn piano despite being in his seventies.
- indifference
lack of any feeling of wanting or interest
文法句型
wish + to-infinitive
wish + for + noun
用法筆記
Often used with possessive adjectives (my wish, her wish) or in the pattern 'wish + to-infinitive'. This sense focuses on the internal feeling of desire, not a concrete goal.
常見錯誤
2. a specific thing that you want to have or achieve, seen as a target you work tow
a specific thing that you want to have or achieve, seen as a target you work toward
Fatima's lifelong wish was to teach children how to read and write.
lifelong wish — goal spanning many years
Diego finally achieved his wish of owning a small boat after years of saving money.
wish of + gerund phrase
The village elders granted the young couple their wish to build a new school near the river.
Aisha's wish to become a nurse grew stronger after she volunteered at the local clinic.
文法句型
wish + to-infinitive
wish + was + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 points to a concrete goal or object (wish of owning a boat), while sense 1 is the general feeling of wanting. Sense 2 often uses 'achieve', 'fulfill', 'grant', or 'realize'.
常見錯誤
3. kind messages expressing your desire that another person experiences happiness,
kind messages expressing your desire that another person experiences happiness, health, or good fortune
Priya sent her warmest wishes to everyone who helped organize the school fundraiser.
send + wishes + to + someone
Please give my best wishes to your sister when you see her at the weekend.
give my best wishes to — common fixed phrase
The card arrived with kind wishes for a speedy recovery after the operation.
Oliver wrote a short note with his wishes for good luck before the big exam.
- greetings
broader; can include just saying hello rather than hoping for wellbeing
- regards
more formal and less warm; often used in emails
- congratulations
specifically for achievements or happy events
文法句型
best wishes
warm wishes
give/send someone your wishes
用法筆記
Almost always used in the plural form (wishes). Common in letters, greeting cards, emails, and spoken goodbyes. 'Best wishes' can also serve as a polite closing in written correspondence.
常見錯誤
4. a hope that you believe could come true through luck, magic, or supernatural mea
a hope that you believe could come true through luck, magic, or supernatural means rather than through ordinary effort
On her birthday, Yuki made a wish and blew out all the candles on the cake.
make a wish — fixed collocation for birthday tradition
Elena's wish came true when she found the bracelet she thought she had lost in the sand.
wish comes true — fixed collocation
Amara closed her eyes, threw a coin into the fountain, and whispered her secret wish.
Luca spotted a shooting star and made a wish before the light disappeared behind the clouds.
文法句型
make a wish
wish comes true
用法筆記
Common in stories about magic, birthday traditions (blowing out candles), and superstitions (throwing coins into fountains, wishing on stars). The verb form 'wish' (sense 6) describes the act of making such a wish.
5. an instruction or demand expressed by someone in authority, telling others what
an instruction or demand expressed by someone in authority, telling others what they must do
The queen expressed her wish that the festival be held every year in the village square.
wish + that-clause with subjunctive
Hana followed her late mother's wish and donated the money to a children's hospital.
The committee members respected the director's wish to keep the meeting short and direct.
The general stated his wish that every soldier receive a medal for their bravery on the field.
- command
stronger and more direct; leaves no room for discussion
- mandate
formal; an official order from a governing body
- instruction
less authoritative; a clear guide on what to do
- suggestion
a gentle recommendation, not a command
文法句型
wish + that-clause (subjunctive)
wish + to-infinitive
用法筆記
This sense is formal and often appears in legal, official, or hierarchical contexts. The that-clause after 'wish' frequently uses the subjunctive mood (e.g. 'that the festival be held', not 'that the festival is held').
常見錯誤
wishes — idiom
1. A set of kind words expressing hope for someone's happiness, health, or good for
A set of kind words expressing hope for someone's happiness, health, or good fortune, typically used to close a written message or shared during celebrations such as birthdays, weddings, or holidays.
Yuki closed her letter with warm wishes for her grandmother's health.
warm wishes + for + [health/happiness/success]
Everyone at the office signed a card with best wishes for Amara's new baby.
best wishes + for + event/achievement
Wei sent a postcard from Kyoto filled with warm wishes for the whole family.
Olu's cousins sent their best wishes when he started his new job at the hospital.
Ingrid wrote her best wishes inside the birthday card and put it in the mail.
文法句型
best wishes + (for + noun)
with best wishes
用法筆記
Usually used in plural form as a fixed expression. The most common phrases are 'best wishes', 'warm wishes', and 'with best wishes'. Common at the end of letters and on greeting cards.