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Expressing a wish or desire with 愿 (yuàn)
Structure
许 + 愿
Explanation
The word 愿 (yuàn) means "wish" or "desire" and can function as both a noun and a verb in Chinese. As a noun, it often appears in phrases like 许愿 (to make a wish). For instance, 我不知道该许什么愿 means "I don't know what wish to make."
Examples
我许了一个愿，希望全家人都健康。
Wǒ xǔ le yí ge yuàn, xīwàng quánjiā rén dōu jiànkāng.
I made a wish, hoping that my whole family would be healthy.
她最大的愿就是能出国留学。
Tā zuìdà de yuàn jiùshì néng chūguó liúxué.
Her greatest wish is to be able to study abroad.
生日的时候，你许了什么愿？
Shēngrì de shíhou, nǐ xǔ le shénme yuàn?
When it was your birthday, what wish did you make?
我许了一个愿，希望全家人都健康。
Wǒ xǔ le yī gè yuàn, xīwàng quánjiā rén dōu jiànkāng.
I made a wish, hoping that my whole family would be healthy.
她最大的愿就是能出国留学。
Tā zuì dà de yuàn jiù shì néng chūguó liúxué.
Her greatest wish is to be able to study abroad.
生日的时候，你许了什么愿？
Shēngrì de shíhòu, nǐ xǔ le shénme yuàn?
What wish did you make on your birthday?