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

  • 使用域

    一般

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.
  • 新(あたら)しい車(くるま)が欲(ほ)しいけど、今(いま)はお金(かね)が無(な)いから買(か)えない。
    I want a new car, but I don't have any money right now, so I can't buy one.
  • 犬(いぬ)が欲(ほ)しいけどスペースが無(な)い。
    I want a dog, but I don't have space.
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)の彼氏(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

  • 誕生日(たんじょうび)にお金(かね)がほしい。

    I want money for my birthday.

  • 新(あたら)しい靴(くつ)より、新(あたら)しいカバンの方(ほう)がほしい。

    More than new shoes, I want a new bag.

  • 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.

  • あの綺麗(きれい)な着物(きもの)がほしい。

    I want that beautiful kimono.

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がほしい – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (2 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.

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