志望

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 志望(しぼう) means aspiring to a goal such as a school, field of study, or kind of work.
• Basic usage: It is used for ranking educational choices or explaining why one is applying.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• The preferred goal
  • 第一志望 is one's first choice of school, department, workplace, or similar goal.
• A wish and an aspiration
  • 希望(きぼう) expresses wishes broadly, while 志望 is often used for goals such as education or employment that one aims to pursue.