Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 6: 12/16

様(よう)に～て欲(ほ)しいWant ~ to ~ like ~, Want ~ to be able to ~, Want ~ to ~ in the way of ~

Structure

Verb + ように + Verb［て］ + ほしい
Noun + のように + Verb［て］ + ほしい

Details

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About ように～てほしい

(A) ように～てほしい is an expression in Japanese which combines the auxiliary verb, ようだ, with the てほしい structure (indicating that you/someone else wants someone to do something). As ようだ is being linked to a verb which comes later in the sentence, it will take on the adverbial form ように.

This expression is used to highlight that you (or someone else) want someone to do something 'in the way of (A)'.

Note that when ように follows a noun, の will be required.

Either に or が may mark the thing that the speaker 'wants' to do. It is more common for に to be used to mark people, while が will often mark events/objects.

Fun Fact

Sometimes が and に will be switched, if either of those particles have already been used somewhere else in a sentence. This is mainly to avoid sounding repetitive, or confusion about what the subject of the sentence is.

  • トムに友達(ともだち)ができるようになってほしい。
    I want Tom to be able to make some friends.

Examples

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    ブラジルのように負(ま)けて欲(ほ)しくない。

    I don't want (you) to lose like Brazil.

    どのように書(か)いて欲(ほ)しいですか。

    In what way do (you) want me to write this?

    ウサインボルトのように走(はし)って欲(ほ)しい。

    I want (you) to run like Usain Bolt.

    頭(あたま)がよくなるように勉強(べんきょう)して欲(ほ)しい。

    I want (you) to study in a way that allows you to become smart.

    私(わたし)たちの子供(こども)には君(きみ)のようになって欲(ほ)しい。

    I want our children to become like you.

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ように～てほしい – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (12 in total)

  • Chiinox

    Chiinox

    I have a question about the example sentence
    " ブラジルのように負けて欲しくない" - “I don’t want you to lose like Brazil.”
    The following sentence isn’t accepted:
    " ブラジルのように負けなくて欲しい"

    I’m wondering, does it change the meaning, or is it not grammatically correct? If so, why? Moving the negative from ほしい to 負ける. In English it’d be the difference between “I want you to not lose” / “I don’t want you to lose” which is basically the same thing.

  • IcyIceBear

    IcyIceBear

    Opposite meaning the way I see it. (If it’s grammatically correct I’m not sure)

    The correct answer
    “I don’t want you to lose like Brazil”
    ブラジルのように負けて欲しくない like Brazil, lose, don’t want

    The one you tried
    “I want you to not lose, like Brazil”
    ブラジルのように負けなくて欲しい like Brazil not lose, want

    The first, Brazil lost and I don’t want you to be like them

    The second, Brazil didn’t lose, and I want you to be like them

  • nekoyama

    nekoyama

    This should be 負けないで欲しい.

    As for the difference in nuance…

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