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JLPT N4Construction
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てほしいWant someone or something to act

てほしい expresses the speaker's wish for another person, thing, or situation to carry out an action. It can describe a private hope or function as a direct request when addressed to the person expected to act.

Who is expected to act?

A specific human actor is commonly marked with . With weather, changes, abstract events, and other situations that nobody fully controls, often presents the hoped-for event as a state of affairs.

People and situations

わたしおとうとにもっとさいべてほしい

I want my younger brother to eat more vegetables.

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おとうと identifies the person whom the speaker wants to act.

あめはややんでほしい

I hope the rain stops soon.

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Here the speaker hopes for a change in an uncontrolled situation.

Wanting an action not to happen

ここではしゃしんらないでほしい

I want you not to take photos here.

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Use the plain negative verb form followed by でほしい when the desired result is that the action does not happen.

When a wish becomes a request

A

このはこいっしょはこんでほしいんだけど。

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

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B

うん、いいよ。

Sure.

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Because A says this directly to the person expected to help, it functions as a request. The ending leaves room for B to respond and makes the request less abrupt.

Keep the person who acts clear

たい normally expresses what the speaker wants to do, whereas てほしい expresses what the speaker wants another person or situation to do. させてほしい has a different role pattern again: the speaker wants permission to perform the action.

More examples

ははすこやすんでほしい

I want my mother to get some rest.

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ぜんいんかいさんしてほしい

I want everyone to attend the meeting.

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明日あしたれてほしい

I hope it is sunny tomorrow.

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はやはるてほしい

I hope spring comes soon.

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わたしはなしちゅうさえぎらないでほしい

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

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このでんとうはこれからものこってほしい

I hope this tradition continues to survive.

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できれば、けっ今日きょうじゅうらせてほしいです

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

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てほしい (tehoshii) – Want someone or something to act