JLPT N4EverydayDirect

てほしいwant someone to (do)

てほしい is for what you want someone else to do: "I want you to…", "I want him to…". When nobody is in control, as with the weather, it is "I hope".

母ははに少すこし休やすんでほしい。

I want my mother to get some rest.

ここでは写しゃ真しんを撮とらないでほしい。

I don't want you taking photos here.

明日あしたは晴はれてほしい。

I hope it is sunny tomorrow.

How to form it

(person に) + Verb in the て-form + ほしい

ほしい changes like an い-adjective: polite ほしいです, past ほしかった. Also written 欲ほしい.

Wanting it not to happen

Verb in the ない-form + で + ほしい

行いかない → 行いかないでほしい.

Someone else does it

English says "want" either way. Japanese uses たい when you will do it yourself, and てほしい when someone else will.

この映えい画がを見みたいです。

I want to see this film.

You watch.

この映えい画がを見みてほしいです。

I want you to see this film.

Someone else watches.

Not said: 友とも達だちに来きたいです。

(I want my friend to come.)

友とも達だちに来きてほしいです.

The person you want to act takes に. When you are talking to that person, they usually go unnamed.

私わたしは弟おとうとにもっと野や菜さいを食たべてほしい。

I want my younger brother to eat more vegetables.

この数すう字じをもう一いち度ど確かく認にんしてほしいです。

I want you to check this figure once more.

Asking with it: てほしいんだけど

Said to the person, it is a request. With friends and family, people add んだけど and stop there: an everyday way to ask.

A

この箱はこ、一いっ緒しょに運はこんでほしいんだけど。

I'd like you to help me carry this box.

B

うん、いいよ。

Sure.

To a teacher, a boss or a customer it is too blunt, even with です: you are telling them what you want. People ask with a question.

to your teacher

Sounds odd: 先せん生せい、この漢かん字じの読よみ方かたを教おしえてほしいです。

Professor, I want you to tell me how to read this kanji.

教おしえていただけませんか.

Hoping it happens

Nobody can be asked to stop the rain. With things like that, てほしい is a hope, and the thing usually takes が.

雨あめが早はやくやんでほしい。

I hope the rain stops soon.

早はやく春はるが来きてほしい。

I hope spring comes soon.

祖そ母ぼに早はやく元げん気きになってほしいです。

I hope my grandmother gets well soon.

A person still takes に.

ないでほしい: "I wish you wouldn't"

This is how people say what bothers them. To the person's face it is a firm "please don't". About people in general it is a complaint.

そんなに怒おこらないでほしい。

I wish you wouldn't get so angry.

夜よるは大おおきな音おとを出ださないでほしいです。

I don't want people making loud noises at night.

そういう言いい方かたはやめてほしい。

I wish you wouldn't talk like that.

やめてほしい, "I wish you'd stop", does the same job without ないで.

Other people's wishes

You can ask someone what they want you to do, but you can't state it for them as a plain fact. You say what they told you.

誕たん生じょう日びに何なにをしてほしい？

What do you want me to do for your birthday?

Not said: 母ははは私わたしに早はやく帰かえってきてほしいです。

(My mother wants me to come home early.)

母ははは私わたしに早はやく帰かえってきてほしいと言いっています。

My mother says she wants me to come home early.

Close neighbours

たいN5

Wanting to do something yourself.

今日きょうは家いえで本ほんを読よみたいです。

I want to read a book at home today.

がほしいN5

Wanting a thing.

来らい月げつはもう少すこし休やすみがほしいです。

I want a little more time off next month.

てくださいN5

Asks outright and expects a yes. てほしいんだけど only says what you would like.

ちょっと手て伝つだってください。

Please help me for a moment.

てもらいたい・ていただきたいN3

The same wish, put as a favor you would receive. ていただきたいんですが is the one for someone above you.

この書しょ類るいを見みていただきたいんですが。

I would like you to look at this document.

といいN4

A hope and nothing else: natural for weather and luck.

明日あした、晴はれるといいですね。

I hope it's sunny tomorrow.

させてほしいN3

With させて in front, you are the one who would act: "I'd like you to let me".

少すこし考かんがえさせてほしい。

I'd like you to let me think for a while.

Check yourself

1"I want my husband to stop smoking."

夫おっとにたばこを（　　）です。

Choose an answer to see why.

2"I don't want you to tell anyone."

だれにも（　　）ほしい。

Choose an answer to see why.

3You want your boss to look over your report. Which is natural to say to her?

Choose an answer to see why.

More detail

てほしくない

The other negative. ないでほしい asks for something not to happen. てほしくない says you don't like the idea.

子こどもには危あぶない所ところで遊あそんでほしくない。

I don't want my children to play in dangerous places.

てほしかった

In the past it is usually a regret or a complaint: it didn't happen.

もっと早はやく言いってほしかった。

I wish you had told me sooner.

More sentences

全ぜん員いんに会かい議ぎに参さん加かしてほしい。

I want everyone to attend the meeting.

弟おとうとには自じ分ぶんの道みちを選えらんでほしいです。

I want my younger brother to choose his own path.

できれば、結けっ果かを今日中きょうじゅうに知しらせてほしいです。

If possible, I'd like you to let me know the result by the end of today.

この伝でん統とうはこれからも残のこってほしい。

I hope this tradition lives on.

風かぜが早はやく弱よわくなってほしいです。

I hope the wind dies down soon.

私わたしの話はなしを途と中ちゅうでさえぎらないでほしい。

I don't want you to interrupt me while I'm speaking.

会かい議ぎ中ちゅうは携けい帯たい電でん話わを見みないでほしいです。

I don't want people checking their phones during the meeting.

Compared with similar forms

Asking someone to do something