<p>Consider, in English, a single word can have more than one meaning, and two different words may have a function overlapped.</p>
<p>For example:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>'Goal' can be replaced by 'wish' in some instances - e.g. &quot;My Goal(wish) is to become a doctor&quot;</p>
</li>
<li><p>'Dream' can be replaced by 'wish' in some instances - e.g. &quot; My Dream(wish) is to become a doctor&quot;</p>
</li>
<li><p>'Will' can be replaced by 'wish' in some instances - e.g. &quot; To become a doctor is my will(wish)&quot;</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>As for the difference between 志愿, 意愿 and 心愿</p>
<ul>
<li><p>志愿 mainly mean: Goal; Dream</p>
</li>
<li><p>意愿 mainly mean: Will; Desire</p>
</li>
<li><p>心愿 mainly mean: Desire; Wish</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>All three above can mean 'Wish'</p>
<blockquote>
<p>我的<strong>志愿</strong>（愿望）是成为一名医生 - My <strong>goal</strong> (wish) is to become a doctor</p>
<p>我的<strong>意愿</strong>（愿望）是成为一名医生 - My <strong>will</strong> (wish) is to become a doctor</p>
<p>我的<strong>心愿</strong>（愿望）是成为一名医生 - My <strong>desire</strong> (wish) is to become a doctor</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The important thing is, it all depends on the context.</p>
<p>The best term for &quot;<strong>Wish</strong>&quot; in &quot;What is your birthday wish?&quot; is '<strong>愿望</strong>'  As in &quot;你的生日<strong>愿望</strong>是什么&quot;</p>
<p>Yes, 愿望 mainly mean 'wish' (n) but in some instances, you can translate it to 'desire, hope or dream'</p>
<p>Some more tips:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Use 志愿 if the wish is also an achievable goal (<em>志 means goal, 志愿 = a wish you aim to achieve</em>)</p>
<p>Use 意愿 if the wish is a determined one (<em>意 means mind, 意愿 = a wish you have made up your mind to fulfill</em>)</p>
<p>Use 心愿 if the wish is also a deep desire or a life long dream (<em>心 means heart, 心愿 = a wish comes from your heart</em>)</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-13T00:49:00.813Z
谢谢。But I am not sure which one should be used in a particular context. Besides, I agree 心愿 and 愿望 are most likely exchangeable. But I think 愿望 and 意愿 are not exchangeable. 愿望 or 心愿 might turn true and might not. I have an impression 意愿 is stronger  somehow. I heard a legal phrase 违背了当事人的意愿。
cnwang09
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-13T01:17:44.977Z
See my edited answer
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-14T01:42:39.710Z
Thank you very much for your added explanation. Somehow I have an impression that in terms of determination 志愿 > 意愿 > 心愿 . Is that right?
cnwang09
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-14T04:11:30.850Z
心愿 is a deep desire that always in your heart;  志愿 is long term goal you want to reach; 意愿 is a choice you make at the moment. In my opinion, in term  of determination, 心愿>志愿>意愿  because 心愿 never change until it is fulfilled or until you die. 志愿 is a long term goal but it may change over time when you realize achieving it is no longer possible.  意愿 is usually a short term goal, if it is not fulfilled, you usually move on to other things.
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-12T01:40:24.640Z
2017-01-13T01:28:19.560Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
Tang Ho
<p>I noticed many Chinese words have the same or similar meanings but they are not exchangeable. In many cases it is hard to decide which one to choose. Can anyone tell the subtle difference between 志愿, 意愿, and 心愿?</p>

<p>For example, I never heard anyone say "你的生日意愿是什么". Usually you heard "你的生日心愿是什么". But both 意愿 and 心愿 are "wish" in English.</p>

<difference><vocabulary>
What is the subtle difference between 志愿, 意愿, and 心愿?
# What is the subtle difference between 志愿, 意愿, and 心愿?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-01-12)

I noticed many Chinese words have the same or similar meanings but they are not exchangeable. In many cases it is hard to decide which one to choose. Can anyone tell the subtle difference between 志愿, 意愿, and 心愿?

For example, I never heard anyone say "你的生日意愿是什么". Usually you heard "你的生日心愿是什么". But both 意愿 and 心愿 are "wish" in English.

**Tags:** difference, vocabulary


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-01-12. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

Consider, in English, a single word can have more than one meaning, and two different words may have a function overlapped.

For example:

* 'Goal' can be replaced by 'wish' in some instances - e.g. "My Goal(wish) is to become a doctor"
* 'Dream' can be replaced by 'wish' in some instances - e.g. " My Dream(wish) is to become a doctor"
* 'Will' can be replaced by 'wish' in some instances - e.g. " To become a doctor is my will(wish)"

As for the difference between 志愿, 意愿 and 心愿

* 志愿 mainly mean: Goal; Dream
* 意愿 mainly mean: Will; Desire
* 心愿 mainly mean: Desire; Wish

All three above can mean 'Wish'

> 我的**志愿**（愿望）是成为一名医生 - My **goal** (wish) is to become a doctor
>
> 我的**意愿**（愿望）是成为一名医生 - My **will** (wish) is to become a doctor
>
> 我的**心愿**（愿望）是成为一名医生 - My **desire** (wish) is to become a doctor

The important thing is, it all depends on the context.

The best term for "**Wish**" in "What is your birthday wish?" is '**愿望**' As in "你的生日**愿望**是什么"

Yes, 愿望 mainly mean 'wish' (n) but in some instances, you can translate it to 'desire, hope or dream'

Some more tips:

> Use 志愿 if the wish is also an achievable goal (*志 means goal, 志愿 = a wish you aim to achieve*)
>
> Use 意愿 if the wish is a determined one (*意 means mind, 意愿 = a wish you have made up your mind to fulfill*)
>
> Use 心愿 if the wish is also a deep desire or a life long dream (*心 means heart, 心愿 = a wish comes from your heart*)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: 谢谢。But I am not sure which one should be used in a particular context. Besides, I agree 心愿 and 愿望 are most likely exchangeable. But I think 愿望 and 意愿 are not exchangeable. 愿望 or 心愿 might turn true and might not. I have an impression 意愿 is stronger  somehow. I heard a legal phrase 违背了当事人的意愿。  
> **username_1**: See my edited answer  
> **username_0**: Thank you very much for your added explanation. Somehow I have an impression that in terms of determination 志愿 > 意愿 > 心愿 . Is that right?  
> **username_1**: 心愿 is a deep desire that always in your heart;  志愿 is long term goal you want to reach; 意愿 is a choice you make at the moment. In my opinion, in term  of determination, 心愿>志愿>意愿  because 心愿 never change until it is fulfilled or until you die. 志愿 is a long term goal but it may change over time when you realize achieving it is no longer possible.  意愿 is usually a short term goal, if it is not fulfilled, you usually move on to other things.  

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