たがるShows signs of wanting to
Use this form to describe another person's apparent desire to do something, based on behavior or other observable evidence. It presents the desire from an observer's viewpoint rather than claiming direct access to the person's thoughts.
An observer's description
The key is not simply that the subject is a third person. The sentence should give you some basis for recognizing the desire: repeated requests, gestures, preparation, hesitation, or other visible behavior. The basic form often describes a tendency, while たがっている commonly describes signs that are continuing.
Tendency and continuing desire
葵は出かける前になると、いつも地図に手を伸ばし、自分で持ちたがる。
Before going out, Aoi always reaches for the map and wants to carry it herself.
AnalyzeThe repeated behavior supports a description of Aoi's usual tendency.
弟は店の前で何度も立ち止まり、中に入りたがっている。
My younger brother keeps stopping in front of the shop and appears to want to go inside.
AnalyzeHis repeated stopping is visible evidence, and the desire is presented as continuing.
Common forms
Swipe sideways to compare every column.
| Meaning | Form | Example change |
|---|---|---|
| Present or habitual tendency | たがる | 読みたがる |
| Continuing signs of desire | たがっている | 読みたがっている |
| Past | たがった | 読みたがった |
| Negative | たがらない | 読みたがらない |
Past and negative observations
犬は玄関でリードをくわえ、外へ出たがった。
The dog held its leash in its mouth and wanted to go outside.
AnalyzeHolding the leash provides a clear outward sign of the dog's desire.
息子は布団をかけても何度も起き上がり、寝たがらなかった。
Even after being tucked in, my son kept getting up and did not want to sleep.
AnalyzeThe negative desire is inferred from his repeated action.
Direct words and an observer's report
たい directly states the speaker's own desire and can appear inside a quotation reporting someone's exact words. By contrast, たがる is the observer's description of the signs they notice.
健太は「もう帰りたい」と言って何度も時計を見ている。こうした様子から、健太は帰りたがっていると言える。
Kenta says, “I want to go home now,” and keeps looking at the clock. From this behavior, we can say that he appears to want to go home.
AnalyzeMore examples
赤ちゃんはスプーンに手を伸ばして、自分で食べたがっている。
The baby is reaching for the spoon and appears to want to eat without help.
Analyze友人のレナは京都のパンフレットを何冊も集め、また行きたがっていた。
My friend Rena had collected several Kyoto brochures and seemed eager to go there again.
Analyze猫は窓を前足で引っかき、外に出たがっている。
The cat is scratching the window with its front paw and appears to want to go outside.
Analyze妹は試着室の鏡の前から動かず、その服を着たがった。
My younger sister would not move away from the fitting-room mirror and wanted to wear that outfit.
Analyze兄は新しいゲームを見ると、発売日を調べてすぐ遊びたがる。
Whenever my older brother sees a new game, he checks its release date and wants to play it right away.
Analyzeその子は注射器を見ると泣いて腕を隠し、注射を受けたがらない。
When the child sees a syringe, they cry and hide their arm, showing that they do not want the injection.
Analyze