Japanese grammar · Elementary (A2)
Wanting: ～たい and ほしい
～たい for things you want to do, ほしい for things you want, ～てほしい for what you want others to do, and how to talk about other people's wishes.
I want to: ～たい
To say you want to do something, take the ます stem (the ます form without ます) and add ～たい (-tai): (tabemasu) → (tabetai), I want to eat; (ikimasu) → (ikitai), I want to go.
The result behaves like an い-adjective: add (desu) to be polite, and change the ending for the negative and the past. The object can take (o) or (ga): (rāmen ga tabetai) and (rāmen o tabetai) are both correct.
| Meaning | Plain | Polite |
|---|---|---|
| want to | (ikitai) | (ikitai desu) |
| don't want to | (ikitakunai) | (ikitakunai desu) |
| wanted to | (ikitakatta) | (ikitakatta desu) |
| didn't want to | (ikitakunakatta) | (ikitakunakatta desu) |
- 今年の夏は北海道に行きたいです。Kotoshi no natsu wa Hokkaidō ni ikitai desu.I want to go to Hokkaido this summer.
- 今日は何もしたくない。Kyō wa nani mo shitakunai.I don't feel like doing anything today.
I want a thing: ほしい
To say you want a thing, use (hoshii), an い-adjective, with (ga) on the thing: (atarashii pasokon ga hoshii desu), I want a new computer. It conjugates like any い-adjective: (hoshikunai), (hoshikatta).
In a shop, (hoshii desu) can sound childish or demanding. Ask for things with をください (o kudasai) or をお願いします (o onegai shimasu), or soften with ～んですが (n desu ga): (kuroi no ga hoshii n desu ga…), I'm looking for a black one…
- 誕生日に何がほしいですか。Tanjōbi ni nani ga hoshii desu ka.What would you like for your birthday?
- 車はもうほしくないです。Kuruma wa mō hoshikunai desu.I don't want a car any more.
Softening a wish: ～たいんですが
In shops, hotels and offices, a wish is usually turned into a polite request by adding ～んですが (-n desu ga) and leaving the sentence unfinished. The listener understands that you are asking for help: (shichaku shitai n desu ga), I'd like to try this on.
- すみません、これを交換したいんですが。Sumimasen, kore o kōkan shitai n desu ga.Excuse me, I'd like to exchange this.
- 明日の予約を変えたいんですが…Ashita no yoyaku o kaetai n desu ga…I'd like to change tomorrow's reservation…
Other people's wishes
Japanese doesn't state other people's feelings as facts: you can't know from inside what someone else wants. So ～たい and are used for yourself, and in questions to the listener. About a third person, add (to itte imashita), they said; (sō desu), I hear; or use ～たがっている (-tagatte iru), shows signs of wanting.
Even in questions, ～たいですか can sound too direct to a superior or a guest. Offer instead: (kōhī wa ikaga desu ka), would you like some coffee?
- 田中さんも来たいと言っていました。Tanaka-san mo kitai to itte imashita.Ms Tanaka said she wants to come too.
- 息子は犬をほしがっています。Musuko wa inu o hoshigatte imasu.My son wants a dog.
I want you to: ～てほしい (B1)
To say you want someone else to do something, use the te-form + (hoshii). The person takes (ni): (chichi ni kite hoshii), I want my father to come. The negative wish is ～ないでほしい (-naide hoshii), I don't want you to.
Said directly to the listener, ～てほしい can sound like a demand. It is warm between family and friends, but with others a request with ～てもらえますか is more polite.
- お父さんにも応援してほしい。Otōsan ni mo ōen shite hoshii.I want you to support me too, Dad.
- 心配しないでほしい。Shinpai shinaide hoshii.I don't want you to worry.
- 駅まで迎えに来てほしいんだけど。Eki made mukae ni kite hoshii n da kedo.I'd like you to come and pick me up at the station.