xǔyuàn: 许愿 - To Make a Wish

• Keywords: xuyuan, 许愿, make a wish in Chinese, Chinese wishing traditions, temple wish, birthday wish, Chinese prayer, how to say make a wish in Chinese, make a vow, hope, desire, 愿望, 还愿
• Summary: Learn how to say “make a wish” in Chinese with 许愿 (xǔyuàn). This guide explores its meaning beyond a simple birthday wish, delving into its cultural significance at Chinese temples, the associated concept of fulfilling your vow (还愿), and how it's used in modern conversation. Discover the difference between 许愿 (xǔyuàn), 希望 (xīwàng), and 想 (xiǎng) through practical examples and cultural insights.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xǔyuàn
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To make a wish, often in a sincere, formal, or spiritual context.
• In a Nutshell: 许愿 (xǔyuàn) is the formal act of making a wish. It's not just a casual “I wish…” in your head. It's an action you perform—whether by closing your eyes and thinking deeply in front of a birthday cake, or by kneeling and praying at a temple. The term carries a sense of sincerity and hope, and in traditional settings, it implies a promise made to a higher power in exchange for the wish being granted.

• 许 (xǔ): This character means “to permit,” “to allow,” or “to promise.” It suggests an act of granting or formal agreement.
• 愿 (yuàn): This character means “wish,” “desire,” or “vow.” It represents a heartfelt hope or aspiration.

When combined, 许愿 (xǔyuàn) literally translates to something like “to promise a wish” or “to present a desire for approval.” This combination highlights the formal, almost transactional nature of the act, distinguishing it from a simple, fleeting desire.

In Chinese culture, 许愿 (xǔyuàn) is deeply connected to spiritual and folk traditions. While it can be used for secular wishes (like on a birthday), its most significant role is in religious practice. Many people visit Buddhist or Taoist temples (寺庙, sìmiào) specifically to 许愿. This process might involve lighting incense, bowing, and praying to a specific deity for help with something important, such as success on an exam, health for a family member, or prosperity in business. A crucial related concept is 还愿 (huányuàn), which means “to fulfill a vow.” Traditionally, when you 许愿 at a temple and your wish is granted, you are expected to return to the same temple to give thanks. This “repayment” can take many forms, such as making a donation, burning incense, or performing another promised act of devotion. This creates a reciprocal relationship with the deity. In contrast, the Western concept of “making a wish” (e.g., on a shooting star or birthday candle) is often more whimsical and personal, lacking this sense of obligation or spiritual transaction. While a Chinese person will also 许愿 in these modern contexts, the word itself is rooted in a more solemn tradition.

许愿 (xǔyuàn) is used in both traditional and modern contexts, but it always implies a degree of seriousness and sincerity.

• Spiritual/Traditional Contexts: This is the term's core usage.
  • At temples for blessings.
  • During major festivals like Chinese New Year for good fortune in the year ahead.
  • Before a major life event like the gaokao (college entrance exam) or starting a new company.
• Secular/Modern Contexts: The term has been adapted for more universal situations.
  • Blowing out birthday candles: “快对着蛋糕许愿吧！” (Kuài duìzhe dàngāo xǔyuàn ba! - Quick, make a wish on the cake!)
  • Seeing a shooting star: “我看到流星了，赶紧许个愿！” (Wǒ kàndào liúxīng le, gǎnjǐn xǔ ge yuàn! - I saw a shooting star, hurry and make a wish!)
  • Social Media: Users might post a picture of a temple or a scenic view with the caption “新年许个愿” (Xīnnián xǔ ge yuàn - Making a New Year's wish).

The connotation is almost always positive and hopeful.

• Example 1:
  • 每年生日，我都会在蛋糕前闭上眼睛许愿。
  • Pinyin: Měi nián shēngrì, wǒ dōu huì zài dàngāo qián bìshang yǎnjīng xǔyuàn.
  • English: Every year on my birthday, I close my eyes and make a wish in front of the cake.
  • Analysis: A classic, common example of using 许愿 in a modern, secular context.
• Example 2:
  • 很多学生考试前会去寺庙许愿，希望取得好成绩。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō xuéshēng kǎoshì qián huì qù sìmiào xǔyuàn, xīwàng qǔdé hǎo chéngjì.
  • English: Many students go to temples to make a wish before exams, hoping to get good grades.
  • Analysis: This illustrates the term's traditional and spiritual usage, which is still very common today.
• Example 3:
  • 传说对着流星许愿，愿望就会实现。
  • Pinyin: Chuánshuō duìzhe liúxīng xǔyuàn, yuànwàng jiù huì shíxiàn.
  • English: Legend says that if you make a wish on a shooting star, the wish will come true.
  • Analysis: Shows 许愿 used in the context of folklore and superstition.
• Example 4:
  • 她许的愿是希望家人永远健康平安。
  • Pinyin: Tā xǔ de yuàn shì xīwàng jiārén yǒngyuǎn jiànkāng píng'ān.
  • English: The wish she made was for her family to be forever healthy and safe.
  • Analysis: Here, 许的愿 (xǔ de yuàn) functions as a noun phrase, “the wish that was made.”
• Example 5:
  • 新年第一天，我们一起去山顶许愿吧！
  • Pinyin: Xīnnián dì yī tiān, wǒmen yīqǐ qù shāndǐng xǔyuàn ba!
  • English: On the first day of the New Year, let's go to the mountaintop to make a wish together!
  • Analysis: This sentence has a hopeful and celebratory tone, linking 许愿 with new beginnings.
• Example 6:
  • 如果我这次许的愿实现了，我一定会回来还愿的。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ wǒ zhè cì xǔ de yuàn shíxiàn le, wǒ yīdìng huì huílái huányuàn de.
  • English: If the wish I made this time comes true, I will definitely come back to fulfill my vow.
  • Analysis: This sentence explicitly connects 许愿 with its cultural counterpart, 还愿 (huányuàn), showing the transactional nature of traditional wishing.
• Example 7:
  • 你刚才悄悄地许了什么愿？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ gāngcái qiāoqiāo de xǔ le shénme yuàn?
  • English: What wish did you just secretly make?
  • Analysis: A common, playful question asked after someone has made a wish (e.g., after blowing out candles).
• Example 8:
  • 我最大的愿望是通过这次面试，我每天都在心里许愿。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zuì dà de yuànwàng shì tōngguò zhè cì miànshì, wǒ měitiān dōu zài xīnlǐ xǔyuàn.
  • English: My biggest wish is to pass this interview; I make a wish in my heart every day.
  • Analysis: This example neatly shows the difference between the noun 愿望 (yuànwàng - the wish itself) and the verb 许愿 (xǔyuàn - the act of wishing).
• Example 9:
  • 很多人把写着愿望的红色丝带挂在树上，以此来许愿。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō rén bǎ xiězhe yuànwàng de hóngsè sīdài guà zài shù shàng, yǐ cǐ lái xǔyuàn.
  • English: Many people hang red ribbons with wishes written on them on trees as a way to make a wish.
  • Analysis: Describes a specific cultural practice known as a “wishing tree,” demonstrating a physical form of 许愿.
• Example 10:
  • 他许愿世界和平，虽然听起来很大，但却很真诚。
  • Pinyin: Tā xǔyuàn shìjiè hépíng, suīrán tīngqǐlái hěn dà, dàn què hěn zhēnchéng.
  • English: He wished for world peace. Although it sounds grand, it was very sincere.
  • Analysis: Shows that 许愿 can be used for large, abstract, and selfless desires, emphasizing the sincerity of the act.

The most common mistake for learners is confusing 许愿 (xǔyuàn) with 希望 (xīwàng) and 想 (xiǎng). They all relate to wanting something, but they are not interchangeable.

• 许愿 (xǔyuàn): The action of making a formal wish. It's a specific event.
• 希望 (xīwàng): The state of hoping or the hope itself. It's a general feeling or desire for the future.
• 想 (xiǎng): “To want.” Used for everyday, immediate desires.

Common Mistake Example:

• Incorrect: 我许愿喝一杯水。(Wǒ xǔyuàn hē yī bēi shuǐ.)
• Why it's wrong: 许愿 is far too formal and solemn for a simple want like drinking water. It sounds like you are praying to a god for a glass of water.
• Correct: 我想喝一杯水。(Wǒ xiǎng hē yī bēi shuǐ. - I want to drink a glass of water.)

Another Point of Nuance: Don't confuse making a wish for yourself (许愿) with giving a wish to someone else (祝福, zhùfú).

• You 许愿 for your own success. (我许愿考试成功。)
• You 祝福 a friend's success. (我祝福你考试成功。)

• 愿望 (yuànwàng) - The noun for “wish” or “desire.” 许愿 is the verb to make a 愿望.
• 还愿 (huányuàn) - To fulfill a vow made to a deity after a wish comes true. The cultural follow-up to 许愿.
• 希望 (xīwàng) - To hope; a general feeling of desire for a future outcome. Less formal and action-oriented than 许愿.
• 祈祷 (qídǎo) - To pray. Overlaps with the spiritual side of 许愿, but 祈祷 focuses more on communicating with a deity, while 许愿 often implies a specific request.
• 祝福 (zhùfú) - A blessing; to wish someone well. This is a wish you direct outward to others, not one you make for yourself.
• 寺庙 (sìmiào) - Temple. A very common and traditional place to go to 许愿.
• 流星 (liúxīng) - Shooting star. A popular, modern object to wish upon.
• 梦想 (mèngxiǎng) - Dream; aspiration. A long-term, ambitious goal, stronger than a simple 愿望.