“〜koto ga nozomashii・〜ga risouteki da”: It Is Desirable to 〜 / Ideally 〜 [JLPT N2]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

「全員出席することが望ましい」 — a measured “it's best / ideally …,” not a command.

「早めのご予約が望ましい」 — not compulsory, yet objectively pointing out ‘this is best'

A guide says 「混雑を避けるため、早めのご予約が望ましい」 (to avoid crowds, early booking is advisable) — 「〜ことが望ましい・〜が理想的だ」 = it's best to ～, ideally ～, used to gently, objectively point out “doing this is better, this is ideal,” without compulsion. It's softer than 「べき (should)」 and more formal than 「〜たほうがいい (advice),」 a pattern common in rules, guides, and written recommendations. This guide covers its gentle, objective feel and the difference in strength from 「べき.」

Core: 望ましい = (objectively) best, ideal

「〜ことが望ましい／〜が望ましい」 means “(from an objective view) doing this is ideal, best,” a gentle, non-compulsory recommendation:

• 全員が出席することが望ましい (it's best for everyone to attend).
• 事前の連絡が望ましい (advance contact is advisable).

「〜が理想的だ」 is similar = “ideally ～”: 週三回の運動が理想的だ (ideally, exercise three times a week).

Feel: “it's best to ～, ideally ～” — the core is objectively expressing the wish “this is ideal,” in a gentle, room-leaving tone: it merely says “this is best,” not compulsory, not a command (failing to do it isn't “wrong,” just “less than ideal”). Mostly for rules, guides, recommendations — formal writing.

Attachment & forms

See it in context

• 申込書は本人が記入することが望ましい。(It's best for the applicant to fill in the form themselves.)
• 面接には、スーツを着用することが望ましい。(For interviews, it's best to wear a suit.)
• この薬は、空腹時の服用は避けることが望ましい。(It's best to avoid taking this medicine on an empty stomach.)
• 参加者は事前に資料を読んでおくことが望ましい。(Participants had best read the materials in advance.)
• 睡眠は一日七時間程度が理想的だ。(Ideally, sleep is about seven hours a day.)

⚠️ Easy traps to avoid

① 「望ましい」 is a gentle, objective ‘best,' not a compulsory ‘must.' This is the key feel. 「〜ことが望ましい」 means ‘(objectively) this is best, ideal,' but is not compulsory — it merely points out the ideal course, and failing to do it isn't a violation or ‘wrong,' just “less than ideal.” So it's far gentler, with more room than 「〜べきだ (should, has a duty)」「〜なければならない (must)」: 全員出席することが望ましい (it's best for all to attend — but not attending isn't a violation) vs 全員出席すべきだ (all should attend — with a sense of duty, reproach). Using 「望ましい」 in rules and guides is a courteous ‘recommendation,' not a ‘requirement.' Don't read 「望ましい」 as a compulsory command.

② 「望ましい」 leans written, objective; everyday speech uses 「〜たほうがいい.」 「〜ことが望ましい」 has a written, formal, objective color, mostly for rules, guides, reports, formal recommendations, with a tone like “(from an objective stance) it's advisable to do this.” For everyday advice “you'd best ～,” the colloquial 「〜たほうがいい」「〜といい」 is more natural: colloquial 「早く予約したほうがいいよ」 (you'd best book early) / written 「早めのご予約が望ましい」 (early booking is advisable). Saying 「望ましい」 among friends is too stiff, too official. Test: rules, guides, formal writing → ことが望ましい; everyday advice → たほうがいい.

③ Attachment: verbs take ‘dictionary form ＋ ことが,' nouns take 「が.」 Note the attachment. With a verb, use 「dictionary form ＋ ことが望ましい」 (提出することが望ましい, not 「提出するが望ましい」) — the verb must first be nominalized with 「こと.」 With a noun or な-adjective, use 「が望ましい」 directly (早めが望ましい, 静かが望ましい). The negative “it's best not to ～” uses 「〜ないことが望ましい」 (使用しないことが望ましい). Mnemonic: verb ＋ ことが望ましい, noun ＋ が望ましい — a verb needs a bridging 「こと.」

🔄 Compare with similar forms: ことが望ましい／べきだ／たほうがいい／といい

💡 How to remember this

「〜ことが望ましい・〜が理想的だ」 = it's best to ～, ideally ～, a gentle pattern in rules, guides, formal recommendations — three points: ① gentle, objective, non-compulsory — it points out “this is best, ideal,” but failing to do it isn't ‘wrong' (just less than ideal), far softer than the duty-bearing 〈べきだ〉; ② written, formal — rules, guides, reports use it; for everyday advice use 「〜たほうがいい／といい」, don't force 望ましい in chat; ③ attachment — verbs take 「dictionary form ＋ ことが望ましい」 (nominalize with こと), nouns take 「が望ましい.」 The strength ladder: everyday たほうがいい ＜ gentle-objective ことが望ましい ＜ duty-bearing べきだ ＜ compulsory なければならない. To courteously “recommend the ideal course” in a formal document, 「〜ことが望ましい」 is professional and polite — very handy.

❓ Common questions

Q: 「ことが望ましい」 and 「べきだ」 both talk about ‘what to do' — what's the difference?

The difference is strength and tone (gentle recommendation vs duty-bearing ‘should'). 「〜ことが望ましい」 = it's best, ideally (gentle, objective, non-compulsory): it merely objectively points out “doing this is most ideal, better,” in a gentle, room-leaving tone, and failing to do it isn't a violation or ‘wrong,' just “less than ideal”: 面接ではスーツを着ることが望ましい (it's best to wear a suit for interviews — advice, but not wearing one isn't “wrong”). It's often used in rules and guides to courteously recommend. 「〜べきだ」 = should (with duty, responsibility, a stronger tone): it means “it ought to be so, one has a duty to do this,” with a sense of duty, prescription, and failing carries a reproach of “wrong, negligent”: 学生は勉強すべきだ (students should study — with duty), 約束は守るべきだ (one should keep promises — not doing so is wrong). Test: to gently, objectively recommend “this is most ideal” (non-compulsory, room-leaving) → ことが望ましい; to express “it ought to be so, there's a duty” (stronger, with responsibility) → べきだ (see 〈べきだ〉). E.g. a guide's 「事前予約が望ましい (advance booking is advisable)」 is courteous advice; while 「予約は守るべきだ (one should honor the booking)」 carries the reproach “not honoring it is wrong.” Both talk about “what to do,” but 望ましい is a soft “best,” べきだ a duty-bearing “should.”

Q: Can 「望ましい」 be used to advise friends in everyday conversation?

Not really suited — it sounds too official. 「〜ことが望ましい」 has a clear written, formal, objective color, its tone like “(from an objective, normative stance) it's advisable to do this,” fitting rules, guides, reports, formal notices, policy recommendations: 受験者は身分証を持参することが望ましい (examinees had best bring ID — a formal guide), 環境のため、公共交通機関の利用が望ましい (for the environment, using public transport is advisable — a policy recommendation). Saying 「望ましい」 when advising friends or family in daily life sounds too stiff, too officialese, like reading out a regulation: × telling a friend 「もっと早く寝ることが望ましいよ」 (odd said to a friend). For everyday advice “you'd best ～,” use the colloquial 「〜たほうがいい」「〜といい」「〜たら?」: ○ 「もっと早く寝たほうがいいよ」 (you'd best sleep earlier), ○ 「早めに予約するといいよ」 (better to book early). Test: writing formal documents, rules, guides (objective advice) → ことが望ましい; everyday advice to friends → たほうがいい／といい. In short, 「望ましい」 is the formal advice of “documents, guides,” while everyday talk uses 「たほうがいい」 to sound natural and friendly.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「書類は、両面印刷する___。」(double-sided printing is preferable — notice tone)

(A) ことが望ましい　(B) わけがない　(C) おそれがある　(D) どころではない

Q2. How does 「ことが望ましい」 connect after a noun?

(A) 名詞＋であることが望ましい　(B) 名詞＋だことが望ましい　(C) 名詞＋なことが望ましい　(D) 名詞＋をことが望ましい

Q3. What does 「全員出席することが望ましい」 mean?

(A) It is preferable that everyone attends (a euphemistic expectation)

(B) Attendance is forbidden

(C) Attendance is impossible

(D) Already attended

Q4. What is the difference between 「ことが望ましい」 and 「べきだ」?

(A) ことが望ましい = a euphemistic, objective expectation; べきだ = a stronger assertion of obligation

(B) They are exactly the same

(C) ことが望ましい = strong obligation

(D) べきだ = euphemistic

Q5. Which connection is correct?

(A) 経験者であることが望ましい。　(B) 経験者だことが望ましい。

(C) 経験者なことが望ましい。　(D) 経験者をことが望ましい。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) ことが望ましい ── Double-sided printing is preferable (notice).

2. (A) ── 名詞＋である＋ことが望ましい.

3. (A) ── It is preferable that everyone attends.

4. (A) ── ことが望ましい euphemistic; べきだ strong obligation.

5. (A) ── 「経験者であることが望ましい」 is correct.