Key Facts
- Hangul: 희망; Revised Romanization: huimang
- Syllables: 2
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Sino-Korean
- Hanja: 希望 (希 hope + 望 gaze)
- Register: Neutral to formal.
Hope in Korean: What Does 희망 Mean?
The senses are hope and wish. The register runs from neutral to formal, so the word suits speeches, news and serious conversation. It is the word you use to say you do not lose hope or that someone should keep it. Lighter wishes and dreams use other words: 바람 is the native word for a wish, 소망 is more literary and 꿈 is a dream or a goal in life.
How Do You Pronounce 희망?
Two syllables, hi-mang, even though the RR spelling is huimang. The first syllable is written 희, and after a consonant that vowel is said as a plain ee. The second syllable, mang, ends on ng. So the spoken word is hi-mang, which is two clean syllables.
Example Sentences with 희망
저는 희망을 잃지 않아요.
Jeoneun huimangeul ilchi anayo.
I do not lose hope.
The negative verb 잃지 않아요 means do not lose. The sentence is a statement of resolve, and the object particle follows the noun.
미래에 대한 희망이 있어요.
Miraee daehan huimangi isseoyo.
I have hope for the future.
The phrase 미래에 대한 means about the future. 있어요 then says that hope exists, which is a common way to introduce it.
희망을 가지세요.
Huimangeul gajiseyo.
Please have hope.
A polite request. 가지세요 is the honorific imperative of have, and 희망을 가지다 is the set phrase for holding hope.
Common Phrases and Collocations
Two collocations are full phrases with 가지다 and 잃다, and the third is a compound meaning a wish list.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 희망을 가지다 | to have hope |
| 희망을 잃다 | to lose hope |
| 희망사항 | wish list / hope |
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: ✗ Reading 희망 as hui-mang.
Correct: ✓ Saying 희망 as hi-mang.
Why: The RR spelling huimang makes learners say a ui glide in the first syllable. After a consonant, the vowel ㅢ is pronounced like ㅣ, so 희 is said hi, with a single ee sound.
희망 Compared with Similar Words
Three neighbours separate the formal wish, the dream and the native word for wish.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 희망 | hope; wish | The word on this page. |
| 소망 | wish | More literary. |
| 꿈 | dream | A goal in life. |
| 바람 | wish | The native word for wish. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
희망 is Sino-Korean. The hanja 希望 combine 希, hope, and 望, gaze, so the picture is looking toward something.
Talking after an Unsuccessful Application
One friend has missed out on a job. The other asks about the next step without pretending that the disappointment is small.
Jisu
이번에는 합격하지 못했어요.
Ibeoneneun hapgyeokaji motaesseoyo.
I didn’t get accepted this time.
Alex
다른 회사에도 지원할 거예요?
Dareun hoesaedo jiwonhal geoyeyo?
Will you apply to other companies too?
Jisu
네, 아직 희망이 있어요.
Ne, ajik huimangi isseoyo.
Yes, I still have hope.
Alex
다음에는 좋은 소식이 있으면 좋겠어요.
Daeumeneun joeun sosigi isseumyeon jokesseoyo.
I hope there’s good news next time.
희망이 있어요 presents hope as something that exists. 아직 adds “still”, so the reply emphasizes that the disappointment has not ended the speaker’s hope. The final line expresses an English “I hope” through a sentence ending, without using the noun 희망.
Does Every English “Hope” Become 희망?
희망 is a noun, so it fits expressions about having, losing or giving hope. English also uses “hope” as a verb before a whole statement. Korean often expresses that wish with an ending such as -으면 좋겠어요, meaning “it would be good if”. The last dialogue line shows how this works in a personal conversation.
희망하다 is a verb meaning to hope for or desire something. It appears naturally in formal requests and statements of preference. A form asking for 희망 근무지 wants your preferred work location. In that setting, 희망 describes what you want to choose, rather than your emotional optimism about the future.
Fixed Phrases beyond “Have Hope”
희망을 주다 means “to give hope”. The literal picture works in English too: a person, event or piece of news gives someone reason to expect a better outcome. 희망을 잃다 uses “lose” for the opposite movement. In both expressions, 희망 takes the object marker 을.
희망의 빛 means “a light of hope”. It is a figurative expression in speeches, headlines and reflective writing. The light represents a possibility appearing in a difficult situation. The phrase sounds more expressive than a simple statement that a practical option is available.
희망사항 can mean something one wishes for, including a desired outcome that may be unrealistic. If someone calls a prediction 희망사항, the implication can be “that is what you want to happen”, with doubt about whether it will. It does not always refer to a written list of several wishes.
Where Will You Hear 희망?
희망 appears in encouragement, public speeches and news about recovery or a better future. It can carry more weight than a small everyday preference. 희망을 가지세요 is grammatical and encouraging, but in a conversation about serious disappointment it can sound broad. A concrete offer of help tells the listener more than the hopeful phrase alone.
장래 희망 means a future ambition, often a job a child wants to do. The expression can appear in school assignments and introductions. Although 꿈 also covers a life goal, 장래 희망 is a set combination worth recognizing as a whole.
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 절망 | despair | The loss of hope; the opposite emotional direction. |
| 기대 | expectation | Focuses on anticipating an outcome. |
| 용기 | courage | Helps name the strength to act despite fear. |
| 장래 | future | Appears in 장래 희망 for a future ambition. |
The emotions vocabulary lesson expands the words for describing how a person feels about what comes next.
Quick Self-Test
- Is 희망 a noun or the sentence ending for every English “I hope”?
- What does 희망 근무지 ask for?
- Can 희망사항 imply that a prediction is only wishful thinking?
Show answers
- It is a noun; a wish can also be expressed through a sentence ending.
- Your preferred work location.
- Yes. Context can give it that skeptical meaning.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "hope" in Korean?
Hope in Korean is 희망 (huimang), said hi-mang.
How do you say "I do not lose hope"?
Say 저는 희망을 잃지 않아요.
How do you say "Please have hope"?
Say 희망을 가지세요.
How is 희망 different from 꿈?
꿈 is a dream or a life goal, and 희망 is the hope itself.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Korean emotions vocabulary groups 희망 with related words.
- Index: look up more words near "hope" in Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: add 희망 to the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Next word in the list: dream.