Expressing desire (Refer to DBJG “-tai” & “-hoshii”) 　たい・ほしい たがる・ほしがる たがっている・ほしがっている (Refer to grammar dictionary "Hoshii" 1 pp.144 – 146 and "Tai" pp.441 - 445 for more sample sentences.)

 

Here are the structures to express one’s desires.

 

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“I” want some “items/people.” I (or you*) は something が ほしい(です) * Note: Be careful with this structure when you directly ask others if they want something, if the asnwer make it look/sound gready or have somthing to do with a person asking the question, you are not supposed to ask this way. Instead use "invitation" sturucture (a negative question).  See the sample below.

私は、剣道(けんどう)の道具(どうぐ)が欲(ほ)しいです。  I want tools for Kendo.

私は、日本人のガールフレンドが欲(ほ)しいです。  I want a Japanese girlfriend/lover.

*You made a cake for classmate. 
Bad: このケーキが欲しいですか？Do you want this cake? 
Good: このケーキを食べませんか？　Would you like to eat this cake?  or  このケーキは　いかがですか。　Would you like this cake?

“Someone else” wants some “items/people.” Current desire: Someone は something を　ほしがっています。 Long term desire (habitually desire or not desire for something): Someone は something を　ほしがります。

私の友達は、茶道(さどう)の道具を欲しがっています。 My friend wants tools for tea ceremony.

私の妹は野菜はあまり欲しがりません。　My younger sister does not want much vegetable.

 

“I” want to “do something.”    I (or you*) は something が Conjunctive form of verb + たい(です) * Note: Be careful with this structure when you directly ask others if they want something, if the asnwer make it look/sound gready or have somthing to do with a person asking the question, you are not supposed to ask this way. Instead use "invitation" sturucture (a negative question).  See the sample below.

Conjunctive form of a verb (ますform of verb without ます)  + たい(です) is used to express one’s own desire to do something.   行き+ たい makes the meaning of  “I want to go.” 
E.g. たべたい I want to eat,　のみたい I want to drink, したい I want to do, 　かいたい I want to buy,　あいたい I want to meet, etc.

をparticle can be used instead of  が but が is preferred by many Japanese natives.

です(polite/distal style maker) is added at the end of sentence to make the sentence in polite/distal style.  If you are talking casual tone, you take out です.

私は日本(にほん)で着物(きもの)が買(か)いたいです。  I want to buy Kimono in Japan

私(わたし)は、京(きょう)都(と)に行(い)きたいです。　 I want to go to Kyoto.

*You want to ask out a person for a date. 
Bad: 私とデートしたいですか？Do you want to date with me?    (This this sentence is gramatically correct but CULTURALLY WRONG!)
Good: 私とデートしませんか？　Do you want to date with me? 

Assignment 1-2 C: Write where you want to go and what you want to do there.  (At least 5 locations with something to do.)

E.g. 私は東京に行きたいです。　東京で日本語で話したいです。

 

“Someone else” wants to “do something.”    Current desire: Someone は something を Conjunctive form of verb + たがっています。 Long term desire (habitually desire or not desire to do something): Someone は something を Conjunctive form of verb + たがります。

When expressing someone else’s (a third person’s) desire or asking hear’s desire, たがっていますis used instead of .

Note: たい(です) is  i-adjective + -desu but  たがっています is a verb.  Please conjugate (change them into negative forms, etc.) them accordingly.  The negative form of たい(です) is たくない(です)  .  The negative form of  たがっています is  たがっていません.

 

私の友達も、日本で着物を買いたがっています。  My friend also wants to buy kimono in Japan.

私の友達も、京都に行きたがっています。My friend also wants to go to Kyoto.

私の姉(あね)は、外国(がいこくに行きたがりません。My older sister does not want to go abroad.

 

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