がほしいWant a person or thing
がほしい expresses that the speaker wants the person, thing, or resource named by a noun. In a question, it asks what the listener wants.
The desired item comes before the marker
Put the noun naming what you want before が. The noun may name a concrete object, a person, or an abstract resource such as time or information.
Things and resources
Who wants it?
In an ordinary statement, the person who wants the item is normally the speaker, so the equivalent of “I” is often left unstated. In a question, the listener is understood as the person who may want it.
誕生日に何がほしいですか。
What do you want for your birthday?
AnalyzeNegative and past forms
ほしい changes like an i-adjective.
A desired thing versus a desired action
Use がほしい when the desired element is a noun. Use たい when the speaker wants to perform an action.
新しい自転車がほしいですが、今日は歩きたいです。
I want a new bicycle, but today I want to walk.
AnalyzeMore examples
旅行には軽いかばんがほしいです。
I want a light bag for the trip.
Analyze新しい仕事にはもっと情報がほしいです。
I want more information about the new job.
Analyze何色の傘がほしいですか。
What color umbrella do you want?
Analyze今は静かな時間がほしいです。
I want some quiet time now.
Analyze高校生のとき、新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.
Analyze今日は特別な物がほしくないです。
I do not want anything special today.
Analyzeもう一枚チケットがほしいんですが。
I'd like one more ticket.
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