Expressing Desires: たい, ほしい, and たがる
Learning how to express your wants and desires is a fundamental part of communicating in any language. In Japanese, this is primarily done using three key structures: たい (tai) for "want to do" something, ほしい (hoshii) for "want" a thing, and たがる (tagaru) for describing that "someone else wants" to do something. Mastering these will allow you to share your ambitions, make requests, and understand others' wishes.
1. 〜たい (tai) – "I want to do..."
The suffix たい is attached to the stem of a verb to express your own desire to perform an action. It conjugates like an い-adjective.
Formation Rules:
- For Group 1 (U-verbs): Replace the final 〜う sound with 〜いたい.
e.g., 行く (iku, to go) → 行きたい (ikitai, want to go) - For Group 2 (Ru-verbs): Remove 〜る and add 〜たい.
e.g., 食べる (taberu, to eat) → 食べたい (tabetai, want to eat) - For Irregular Verbs:
する (suru, to do) → したい (shitai, want to do)
来る (kuru, to come) → 来たい (kitai, want to come)
Particle Usage:
When using たい, the object of the verb can be marked by either を (wo) or が (ga). Using が emphasizes the desire itself.
日本に行きたい。
Nihon ni ikitai.
I want to go to Japan.
寿司が食べたい。
Sushi ga tabetai.
I want to eat sushi.
新しいパソコンを買いたい。
Atarashii pasokon wo kaitai.
I want to buy a new computer.
Tip: Because たい expresses internal feeling, it is generally only used for your own desires, not for directly asking others what they want (that can be considered rude). Use questions like 〜ませんか (masen ka) or 〜ましょうか (mashou ka) for polite invitations instead.
2. ほしい (hoshii) – "I want [a thing]..."
The adjective ほしい is used to express a desire for a thing or object. The thing you want is marked by the particle が.
お金がほしい。
Okane ga hoshii.
I want money.
あの本がほしい。
Ano hon ga hoshii.
I want that book.
You can also use it with the て-form of a verb + ほしい to say "I want you to do something." The person you want to perform the action is marked with に.
母に料理をしてほしい。
Haha ni ryouri wo shite hoshii.
I want my mom to cook.
Warning: Directly saying あなたに〜してほしい (anata ni ~ shite hoshii) to someone can sound demanding or rude. It's often softer to use 〜てください (te kudasai) or a more indirect request.
3. 〜たがる (tagaru) – "He/She wants to..."
The suffix たがる is used to describe an observable desire of a third person (someone other than yourself or the person you're speaking to). It conjugates like a Group 1 verb.
弟はいつもゲームをしたがる。
Otouto wa itsumo geemu wo shitagaru.
My younger brother always wants to play games.
子供たちは公園に行きたがっている。
Kodomotachi wa kouen ni ikitagatte iru.
The children want to go to the park (and are showing it).
Tip: Use たがる when you are reporting on someone else's desire based on their actions or words. For the second person (you), it's more common and polite to ask 〜たいですか (tai desu ka) or use推测 (inference) patterns like 〜たいんですか (tai n desu ka).
Social Nuances and Politeness
In Japanese culture, directly stating your own desires, especially strong ones, can sometimes be seen as selfish. Likewise, assuming others' desires can be intrusive. Here’s how to navigate this:
- For your own desires: Using たい and ほしい is fine with friends and family. In formal situations, soften it with phrases like 〜たいと思います (tai to omoimasu - I think I want to...) or 〜たいんです (tai n desu - explaining your desire).
- For others' desires: Avoid directly asking 何がしたいですか (Nani ga shitai desu ka? - What do you want to do?) to superiors or strangers. Instead, use more indirect questions like いかがですか (Ikaga desu ka? - How about...?) or 〜しませんか (~masen ka? - Shall we...?).
Practice
Try translating these sentences into Japanese using the correct form (たい, ほしい, or たがる).
- I want to drink coffee.
- My sister wants a new bag.
- The student (observably) wants to speak Japanese.
- I want you to read this book.
Suggested Answers:
- コーヒーが飲みたい。 (Koohii ga nomitai.)
- 姉は新しいかばんがほしい。 (Ane wa atarashii kaban ga hoshii.)
- その学生は日本語を話したがっている。 (Sono gakusei wa nihongo wo hanashitagatte iru.)
- この本を読んでほしい。 (Kono hon wo yonde hoshii.)
Summary: Key Takeaways
- Use 〜たい to express your own desire to do an action. It attaches to the verb stem and conjugates like an い-adjective.
- Use ほしい to express your desire for a thing. The desired object is marked with が.
- Use 〜たがる to describe a third person's observable desire to do something. It conjugates like a verb.
- Be mindful of social context. Direct desire expressions are best used with close acquaintances, while more indirect and polite forms are preferred with superiors or in formal settings.