Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 4: 13/18

が欲(ほ)しいTo want something, To be in need of

Do not confuse:, ほしくなかった [past negative], with, ほしくなった => ほしい+なる

Structure

Noun + が + ほしい

Details

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    Standard

About がほしい

To say that you want something in Japanese, the が particle will be combined with the い-Adjective 欲(ほ)しい 'to want (A)', or 'to desire (A)'. This is exactly the same way as other い-Adjectives behave when describing nouns.

Caution

This use of 欲(ほ)しい is only used for saying that you want 'things' (nouns). The auxiliary verb たい will be used when saying that you want to 'do' something (verbs).

  • あそこのラーメン屋(や)の餃子(ぎょうざ)を食(た)べたい。
    I want to eat gyoza from that ramen shop over there.

However, ほしい may be used with verbs to express that you want another person to do something. This is done through the use of ほしい after the conjunction particle, て.

  • 私(わたし)は彼氏(かれし)に大事(だいじ)にしてほしい。
    I want my boyfriend to treat me like I am important.

For more detail about this, please see ourてほしい lesson.

Examples

--:--

    機会(きかい)がほしい。

    I want a chance.

    君(きみ)がほしい！

    I want you!

    猫(ねこ)が欲(ほ)しくないです。

    I don't want a cat.

    私(わたし)はいい服(ふく)などがほしいです。

    I want things such as nice clothes.

    使(つか)いやすい箸(はし)がほしい。

    I want chopsticks that are easy to use.

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      がほしい – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (3 in total)

      • LotBlind

        LotBlind

        So the “wa”-particle is never correct with this one? Even when it’s in a negative sentence?

      • nekoyama

        nekoyama

        I don’t think there’s a special rule for は here that would prevent you from using it. If that’s what you want to say, it can indicate contrast, or a minimum amount, or just make the wanted thing the topic, etc.

      • casual

        casual

        Even though this is a straightforward word, its usages can be a little confusing. Consider this:

        （(A)は）(B)が欲しい
        (A) wants (B)

        （(A)が）欲しいもの
        （(A)が）欲しいリンゴ
        The thing (apple) that (A) wants

        So already what’s in front of が欲しい could be either the wanted or the wanter, depending if 欲しい is standalone or modifies a noun.

        Now let’s compare these two:

        欲しいものがあればあげても構わない。
        欲しい人がいればあげても構わない。

        The structure is the same, so the meaning should be the same as well right?

        translations

        If there’s anything you want, I don’t mind giving it to you.
        If there’s anyone who wants this, I don’t mind giving it to them.

        Actual translations provided are the opposite in terms of who wants what.

        My first intuition for the second sentence would be to follow the same structure as 欲しいもの. For example a mana...

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