Wanting
たい, ほしい and てほしい.
To say you want to do something, add たい to the verb's stem, the ます form without ます: 行きます → 行きたい "want to go".
たい conjugates like an い-adjective:
| Form | Plain | Polite |
|---|---|---|
| Want to | 行きたい | 行きたいです |
| Don't want to | 行きたくない | 行きたくないです |
| Wanted to | 行きたかった | 行きたかったです |
| Didn't want to | 行きたくなかった | 行きたくなかったです |
The thing wanted can take を or が: 水を飲みたい or 水が飲みたい. Both are correct; が puts a little more weight on the thing.
- Nihon ni ikitai desu.I want to go to Japan.
- Tsumetai mizu ga nomitai.I want to drink some cold water.
- Kyō wa nani mo shitakunai.I don't want to do anything today.
Other people: たがる
たい states your own wishes, or asks about the listener's. Japanese avoids stating someone else's feelings as fact, so for another person use たがっている "seems to want", or report what they said.
- Otōto wa atarashii gēmu o kaitagatte imasu.My younger brother wants to buy a new game.
Wanting things: ほしい
To want a thing, use ほしい, an い-adjective. The thing takes が.
- Atarashii pasokon ga hoshii desu.I want a new computer.
Wanting someone to do something: てほしい
The て form + ほしい means "I want someone to do it". The person takes に.
- Tomodachi ni tetsudatte hoshii.I want my friend to help me.
Cards from this guide
8 cardsEach card asks about one thing this guide teaches, and its back gives the answer with why and an example. They're reviewed with the rest of the Verbs cards.
How do you make the 'want to' form of a verb, as in 行きたい (want to go)?
Add たい to the verb's stem: the ます form without ます.
What's the negative of 食べたい (want to eat)?
食べたくない (don't want to eat)
What's the past of なりたい (want to become)?
なりたかった (wanted to become)
With a たい form like 飲みたい (want to drink), which particles can mark the thing you want to drink?
Either を or が.
What ending replaces たい to say that someone else wants to do something, as in 'my brother wants to buy a game'?
たがっている (seems to want), as in 買いたがっている.
How do you say you want a thing, like a new bicycle, rather than an action?
Use ほしい, with が on the thing.
How do you say you want someone else to do something, like 'I want my mother to make a cake'?
The て form + ほしい, with に on the person.
How do you politely offer someone above you a drink, instead of asking if they want one?
Ask with いかがですか (how about?): コーヒーはいかがですか.