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JLPT N5EverydayDirect

がほしいwant (a thing)

ほしい is "want" for a thing: a new phone, more time, a day off. It is an adjective, so the thing you want takes が, not を.

もっと自じ由ゆうな時じ間かんがほしいです。

I want more free time.

誕たん生じょう日びに何なにがほしいですか。

What do you want for your birthday?

How to form it

Noun + が + ほしい

Polite ほしいです. Often written 欲ほしい. Among friends the が tends to drop: これ、ほしい.

PlainPolite
wantほしいほしいです
don't wantほしくないほしくないです
wantedほしかったほしかったです
didn't wantほしくなかったほしくなかったです

The endings are those of any い-adjective.

Saying what you want

It can be something you can hold, or time, money, a holiday. With a person it means wanting to have one in your life: friends, a girlfriend, children.

赤あかいマグカップがほしいです。

I want a red mug.

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.

日本にほん人じんの友とも達だちがほしいです。

I want Japanese friends.

子こどものころ、自じ分ぶんの部屋へやがほしかったです。

When I was a child, I wanted a room of my own.

新あたらしい自じ転てん車しゃがほしいなあ。

I wish I had a new bicycle.

なあ on the end is how people wish out loud.

A thing, not an action

English uses "want" for both. In Japanese ほしい follows a noun, and wanting to do something is たい on the verb.

新あたらしい靴くつがほしいです。

I want new shoes.

A thing.

新あたらしい靴くつを買かいたいです。

I want to buy new shoes.

Something to do.

Not said: 日本にほんに行いくがほしいです。

(I want to go to Japan.)

日本にほんに行いきたいです.

Other people's wants

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

Not said: 弟おとうとは新あたらしいゲームがほしいです。

(My little brother wants a new game.)

弟おとうとは新あたらしいゲームをほしがっています。

My little brother wants a new game.

ほしがる is "shows that he wants". With it the thing takes を.

弟おとうとは新あたらしいゲームがほしいと言いっています。

My little brother says he wants a new game.

Offering and asking for things

Asking 何なにがほしい？ is fine with a friend or a child. Asking a teacher, a boss or a customer what they want is too blunt, even when you mean to offer them something.

Sounds odd: 先せん生せい、コーヒーがほしいですか。

Would you like some coffee, Professor?

People offer the thing itself: コーヒーはいかがですか.

In a shop or a café, ほしいです only reports a feeling. People order with をください. When you need someone's help to get the thing, がほしいんですが says what you are after and leaves the rest to them.

お水みずをください。

Some water, please.

もう一いち枚まいチケットがほしいんですが。

I'd like one more ticket.

When you don't want it

今いま、甘あまい物ものはほしくないです。

I don't want anything sweet right now.

In the negative the thing usually takes は.

Said to someone who is offering you something, ほしくないです is a flat refusal. People turn things down with いいです or 大だい丈じょう夫ぶです.

Close neighbours

たいN5

Wanting to do something yourself. It goes on the verb.

明日あしたは昼ひるまで寝ねたいです。

I want to sleep until noon tomorrow.

てほしいN4

Wanting someone else to do something.

先せん生せいにこの部ぶ分ぶんを説せつ明めいしてほしいです。

I want the teacher to explain this part.

たがるN4

What ほしがる is for things, たがる is for actions: someone else shows that they want to do something.

犬いぬはドアを前まえ足あしでかいて、外そとに出でたがっています。

The dog is scratching at the door with its front paw and wants to go outside.

Check yourself

1Which particle?

新あたらしいかばん（　　）ほしいです。

Choose an answer to see why.

2"I want to watch a film."

Choose an answer to see why.

3Which sentence sounds natural?

Choose an answer to see why.

More detail

ほしい物もの

Before a noun it works like any adjective. ほしい物もの is "something you want".

何なにかほしい物もの、ある？

Is there anything you want?

More sentences

新あたらしい水すい筒とうがほしいです。

I want a new water bottle.

何なに色いろの傘かさがほしいですか。

What color umbrella do you want?

今いまは静しずかな時じ間かんがほしいです。

I want some quiet time now.

高こう校こう生せいのとき、新あたらしいパソコンがほしかったです。

When I was in high school, I wanted a new computer.

旅りょ行こうには軽かるいかばんがほしいです。

I want a light bag for the trip.

もう少すこし詳くわしい資し料りょうがほしいんですが。

I'd like some more detailed material.