Optative Mood - Mongolian

Mongolian

The Mongolian optative or "wishing form" (Хүсэх Хэлбэр) is used largely to "tell another person about a wish not connected to the listener" Colloquially, however, it can also be used for a wishful second person imperative. It is formed by joining the suffix -аасай/-ээсэй/-оосой to the root stem of the verb. e.g. Үзэх= to see. үз--ээсэй.

Миний дүнг ээж үзээсэй Minii dung eej uzeesei. "If only mum could see my results."

It can also be used to form wishes in the past tense.

Чи ирсэн баиж ч болоосой Chi irsen baij ch boloosoi. "If only you had come."

Perhaps the most famous modern usage of the Mongolian optative is the chorus of the song "Tears that Flow in The Rain" (Бороонд Урсах Нулимас) (2006) by the Mongolian heavy metal band Fire.

Бороо чи ороосой Нулимас минь урсаасай Болзоо хожимдоосой Чи битгий ирээсэй

"Boroo chi oroosoi, Nulimas min' ursaasai Bolzoo khojimdoosoi Chi bitgii ireesei."

"If only you would fall, rain. If only my tears would flow. If only (you) would be late for our rendezvous. If only you wouldn't come."