願い

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 願い, read ねがい, is the nominal form associated with the verb 願う, to wish or request.
• Basic usage: It is a noun for a hoped-for outcome or for something that people want to see happen.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A clause as the content
  • In 家族が元気でいることが願い, the こと clause states the content of the wish.
• The phrase 願いを聞く
  • With participants, 願いを聞く means hearing what they want or hope for, not merely hearing a sound.