Structure
[い]Adjective[い]+ がる
[な]Adjective + がる
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Standard
使用域
一般
About がる
がる is a う-Verb that is primarily used as a suffix in Japanese. When used in this way, it means 'to act like (A)', or 'to show signs of being (A)', where (A) is the word that it is attached to.
To use がる, you will need to link it to the stem form of an い-Adjective (simply remove the い), or to the stem form of a な-Adjective (do not include the な).
To use がる, you will need to link it to the stem form of an い-Adjective (simply remove the い), or to the stem form of a な-Adjective (do not include the な).
- 彼はいつも女の子の前では強がるけど友達の中では彼は一番の怖がりだ。He always acts tough in front of girls, but amongst our friends he is the biggest scaredy-cat.
- 犬が嫌がる事をしてはいけない。You must not do anything that the dog would not like.
- トムはこの新しいゲームを欲しいと思うよ。I think Tom would want this new game.
- あの人、寒がっている。ジャケット着ればいいのに。That person seems like they feel cold. It would be better if he wore his jacket. (Natural Japanese, as がる shows how he 'appears to be acting', rather than what he is actually feeling)
- この子はいつも新しいおもちゃを欲しがる。This kid always wants new toys.
- キムは新しいパソコンをほしがっている。Kim is wanting a new computer.
Caution
がる may also be used to describe yourself (in the third person). This is when you want to express the way you think that you act/are acting, or a way you assume other people view your behavior.- 俺はいつも人の前では強がる。I always act tough in front of people. (I probably always appear to act tough)
- 私は今、犬をほしがっているけど、マンションに住んでいるからまだ飼えない。Right now, I am wanting a dog, but since I live in an apartment, I can't get one yet. (I am currently acting like I want a dog)
Fun Fact
The use of がっている to express an 'in the moment' way that someone is acting, is slowly becoming less and less common in modern Japanese. Regularly, そう will be used instead, to express that someone (or something) 'seems' a certain way.- あの人、暑がっているね。That person looks like they are hot, don't you think. (They're acting like they're hot)
- あの人、暑そうだね。That person looks like they are hot, don't you think. (They seem hot)
Synonyms
Examples
私の猫は怖がる。
My cat is jumpy. (Acts scared)
私の弟は強がる。
My younger brother acts tough (shows signs of being strong).
あの子はゲームをほしがる。
That kid always wants games.
がる compared to がっている often implies that something is 'always' wanted.
初めての飛行機なので怖いと思うけど、怖がらないでね。
This is your first time on an airplane so I think it might be scary, but don't feel scared.
映画を見て、面白がっています。
To watch a movie and show signs of interest.
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Showing signs of something
Tae Kim
たい and がる
Maggie Sensei
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[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 2 & 123
Genki II 2nd Edition
Page 55
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 317
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がる – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (21 in total)
attn7124
is there ever a situation where いい can be used with がる?
if yes, how should they be formed? (for example, よがる?)Fuga
Hey there!
いい can be used with がる, and the correct form for it is 良がる 善がる or よがる. Personally, I have never used it and I can’t recall a time where I’ve heard this used, but after looking at the dictionary, it seems it’s a real word!
attn7124
Thank you for the answer!
I’ll try to google to see what a sentence with 良がる looks like.
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