wishes

[wˈɪʃɪz] /ˈwish How to pronounce wish (audio)/ (ame, mw)

wishes — 動詞

  • 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

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

遺憾現狀

對當前情況感到不滿，希望不同

to say that you are unhappy with the way things are right now and want them to be different

例句

Reema wishes she spoke Mandarin more fluently, but she still makes many mistakes.

Reema 希望自己的中文能說得更流利，但她還是常犯很多錯誤。

wish + past simple (spoke) for present regret

Caio wishes he did not have to work on Saturday mornings.

Caio 真希望週六早上不用上班。

同義詞
  • 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

❌I wish I know the answer.
✅I wish I knew the answer.
💡after wish, use past simple for present regrets, not present tense.
❌I wish I am taller.
✅I wish I were taller.
💡for the verb 'be', use 'were' for all subjects in formal English.

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

2.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

後悔過去

對已發生或未發生的事感到遺憾

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

例句

Tendai wishes he had studied harder before the final exam.

Tendai 真希望自己期末考前有更努力用功。

wish + past perfect (had studied) for past regret

Gabriel wishes he had not lent his bicycle to a stranger.

Gabriel 真希望當初沒有把腳踏車借給陌生人。

同義詞
  • 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

❌I wish I went to the party yesterday.
✅I wish I had gone to the party yesterday.
💡for past regrets, use past perfect (had + participle), not past simple.

3. to want something to happen or to be true, especially when it is not simple or e

3.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

希望；想要

期望某事發生，常用於正式場合

to want something to happen or to be true, especially when it is not simple or easy to achieve

例句

Hyun wishes to apply for a scholarship at Seoul National University next year.

Hyun 希望明年能申請首爾大學的獎學金。

wish + to-infinitive (wish to apply)

Dewi wishes the committee to reconsider her proposal before the deadline.

Dewi 希望委員會能在截止日前重新考慮她的提案。

wish + object + to-infinitive

同義詞
  • 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

❌I wish a coffee.
✅I would like a coffee.' or 'I want a coffee.
💡wish is not used for simple everyday wants; use 'want' or 'would like' instead.

4. used to show that you are annoyed or impatient with someone's behaviour and want

4.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

不耐；厭煩

對他人行為感到惱怒，希望對方改變

used to show that you are annoyed or impatient with someone's behaviour and want it to change

例句

Hugo wishes his neighbour would stop playing loud music after midnight.

Hugo 真希望鄰居不要在半夜過後還大聲放音樂。

wish + would + base verb for annoyance about behaviour

Anna wishes her younger brother would not interrupt her during online classes.

Anna 真希望弟弟在她上線上課程時不要打斷她。

同義詞
  • 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

❌I wish I would stop eating so much chocolate.
✅I wish I could stop eating so much chocolate.
💡'wish + I would' is unnatural; use 'could' when talking about your own behaviour.

5. to sincerely express hope that someone receives a specific benefit, such as good

5.動詞及物A2
釋義

祝福

在特別場合表達對他人的美好祝願

to sincerely express hope that someone receives a specific benefit, such as good luck, success, or happiness, often on a special occasion

例句

Zayd's grandmother called to wish him a happy birthday.

Zayd 的奶奶打電話來祝他生日快樂。

wish + [person] + [noun phrase] for celebrations

Emma's colleagues wished her good luck before her job interview.

Emma 的同事在她工作面試前祝她好運。

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

❌I wish you happy.
✅I wish you happiness.' or 'I wish you a happy day.
💡wish takes a noun phrase object, not an adjective.

6. to think about something you would like to happen, and hope it will come true, e

6.動詞不及物A2
釋義

許願

希望透過運氣或魔法實現心願

to think about something you would like to happen, and hope it will come true, especially through luck or magic

例句

Greta closed her eyes and wished for a puppy for her birthday.

Greta 閉上眼睛，許願生日時能有一隻小狗。

wish for + [noun] when hoping through luck or magic

Rafael blew out his birthday candles and wished for his family's health.

Rafael 吹熄生日蠟燭，許願家人身體健康。

同義詞
  • 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

7.動詞及物B2
釋義

歡迎；告別

以祝福的話語迎接或送別

to greet someone or say goodbye by expressing good wishes, for example bidding them a warm welcome or wishing them a pleasant journey

例句

The principal wished the new students a warm welcome at the school assembly.

校長在開學典禮上熱烈歡迎新同學。

wish + [person] + [a warm welcome] for greetings

As she left the dinner party, Mei wished everyone goodbye and thanked the host.

Mei 離開晚宴時向大家道別，並感謝主人的款待。

wish + goodbye — farewell pattern

同義詞
  • bid

    very formal; used mainly in old-fashioned or literary English ('I bid you farewell')

  • greet

    broader meaning; does not necessarily include expressing good hopes

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

❌I wished her that she has a good trip.
✅I wished her a good trip.
💡after 'wish' in this sense, use a noun phrase (e.g. 'a good trip'), not a 'that'-clause.

8. to give an instruction or express a requirement in a formal way, often as someon

8.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

請求；欲

禮貌地表示想要某事發生

to give an instruction or express a requirement in a formal way, often as someone in a position of authority

例句

The ambassador wished to speak with the prime minister privately before the meeting.

大使希望在會議前私下與總理交談。

wish + to-infinitive for polite formal request

The director wished the annual report to be finished by Friday afternoon.

董事希望年度報告在星期五下午前完成。

wish + [person/object] + to-infinitive

同義詞
  • want

    less formal; much more common in everyday speech

  • desire

    more formal and literary; suggests stronger feeling

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

❌I wish to the manager that he approves the plan.
✅I wish to speak to the manager about the plan.
💡'wish to' is followed directly by a verb, not a person.

9. to want something unpleasant to happen to someone, often used in negative senten

9.動詞及物B2
釋義

加諸；施加

希望不好的事發生在某人身上

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

例句

I would not wish that kind of pain on anyone, not even my worst enemy.

我不願讓任何人承受那種痛苦，即使是我最討厭的人。

negative form: would not wish + [something] + on + [person]

Nila could never wish harm upon her colleagues, no matter how difficult the project became.

Nila 絕不會希望同事遭遇不幸，無論專案變得有多困難。

同義詞
  • foist

    stronger and more disapproving; implies forcing something unwanted onto someone by deceit

  • inflict

    stronger; suggests causing deliberate harm or punishment

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

❌She wished a headache upon him.' (sounds like an actual curse)
✅She would not wish a headache on him.' (correct hypothetical/negative use)
💡this sense typically appears in negative or conditional sentences.

wishes — 名詞

wishes — 慣用語