欲しい · i-adjective
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 欲しい | 欲しくない |
| Polite | 欲しいです | 欲しくないですalso 欲しくありません |
| Past polite | 欲しかったです | 欲しくなかったですalso 欲しくありませんでした |
| Past | 欲しかった | 欲しくなかった |
| Te-form | 欲しくて | 欲しくなくて |
| Adverbial | 欲しく | |
| Conditional | 欲しければ | 欲しくなければ |
| Tara conditional | 欲しかったら | 欲しくなかったら |
I want a new smartphone.
彼はお金を欲しがっている。
He wants money. (using 欲しがる for third person)
i-adjective, auxiliary adjective
want (someone) to do
Attached to the -te form of a verb to express the speaker's desire for someone else to perform an action. Usually written in kana.
もっと早く来てほしい。
I want you to come earlier.
彼にこの本を読んでほしい。
I want him to read this book.
I want a new computer.
I want you to reply soon.
I don't want you to be late again.
欲しい expresses wanting a thing, whereas したい expresses wanting to perform an action.
欲しい is an adjective simply expressing personal desire, whereas 求める is a verb that implies actively pursuing or asking for what one wants.
欲しい means 'want' (a desire), while 要る means 'need' (a necessity); learners often mix the two when translating 'I want/need X'.