Mnemonic
A deceased emperor's ghost haunts the moon. Every night, the young king gazes up at it, consumed by ambition — yearning to surpass even the legends of the dead so that one day, the moon itself will bear his face.
Additional thoughts
Picture a king standing on a cliff at night, staring at the moon where a dead emperor's face glows. That longing gaze toward something impossibly far away IS ambition — desire reaching beyond the grave.Quick recall
A deceased emperor's face on the moon fills the king with ambition to surpass the dead.Details
The keyword for 望 is ambition. This kanji conveys the idea of looking far into the distance, gazing toward something desired or hoped for on the horizon. It encompasses meanings of hope, desire, aspiration, and longing — the kind of forward-looking yearning that drives one to pursue distant goals. By extension, it also carries the sense of popularity or reputation, as one who is looked up to by others.
- On'yomi
- ぼう、もう
- Kun'yomi
- のぞ.む、もち