What are the differences between 望み, 志望, 希望 and 願い?


Could anyone explain to me what the differences are between these words, both
in meaning and usage?




  * **望み**
    * _hope_ (expectation for future / expectation of surviving, sustaining) 

> 望みを捨てるな _don't give up hope_

    * _desire, wish_ (expectation of obtaining / achieving) 

> 望み薄 _fat chance_

  * **志望**
    * _aim of becoming_ (of profession, school etc.) 

> 志望動機 _reason for applying_ (for the job etc.)

  * **希望**
    * _hope_ ; sounds slightly more bookish, but also more modern than 望み
    * _wish, preference_ (request out of one's taste) 

> 希望が通る _request is met_

  * **願い**
    * _wish, hope_ (which is not necessarily fulfilled by one's own effort) 

> 願いがかなう _wish comes true_

    * [suffixing] _letter of (request for)_... 

> 退職願 _resignation letter_

The word forms you provided are nouns, but of course they can be used as verbs
with respective meanings.




  * **望み**
    * _hope_ (expectation for future / expectation of surviving, sustaining) 

> 望みを捨てるな _don't give up hope_

    * _desire, wish_ (expectation of obtaining / achieving) 

> 望み薄 _fat chance_

  * **志望**
    * _aim of becoming_ (of profession, school etc.) 

> 志望動機 _reason for applying_ (for the job etc.)

  * **希望**
    * _hope_ ; sounds slightly more bookish, but also more modern than 望み
    * _wish, preference_ (request out of one's taste) 

> 希望が通る _request is met_

  * **願い**
    * _wish, hope_ (which is not necessarily fulfilled by one's own effort) 

> 願いがかなう _wish comes true_

    * [suffixing] _letter of (request for)_... 

> 退職願 _resignation letter_

The word forms you provided are nouns, but of course they can be used as verbs
with respective meanings.

