Expression dictionary — full article
Hopes & Resolutions · to hope for, to wish for, to desire
The grammatical pattern 을/를 바라다 is used to express the speaker's hope, wish, or desire for a specific person, thing, or situation. It directly translates to "to hope for," "to wish for," or "to desire" something. This construction is versatile and can be applied to various contexts where one wants to convey a longing or expectation for a particular outcome.
을/를 바라다 is attached to nouns or noun phrases to indicate what the speaker is hoping for. The object markers 을 (after a consonant) and 를 (after a vowel) are crucial here, clearly marking the object of the verb 바라다 (to hope/wish). This pattern is commonly used when expressing wishes for someone's well-being, success, or for a desired event to take place. It conveys a sense of positive expectation or a heartfelt longing.
This is not a conjugation rule for a verb ending, but rather a pattern involving a noun and a verb. The structure is: [Noun/Noun Phrase] + 을/를 + 바라다.
The verb 바라다 itself conjugates regularly based on tense and politeness level (e.g., 바랍니다, 바랐습니다, 바랄게요).
While 을/를 바라다 directly expresses hope for a noun, you can also express hope for an action or a state using other constructions like -기를 바라다 (for verbs/adjectives) or -았/었으면 하다/좋겠다 (for a stronger wish). 을/를 바라다 is more direct when the object of hope is a specific thing or outcome. It's often used in formal or polite contexts, such as wishing someone good luck or expressing a desire for peace.