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JAPANESE VERB

ほしがる

欲しがる

to want something, said of someone else

  • Godan verb (u-verb)

Conjugation

Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.

Present and future

now, habits, and what is to come

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI want something
NegativeI don’t want something

Past

finished actions

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI wanted something
NegativeI didn’t want something

Te-form

て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests

Form Polite Plain
て-formwanting something, and…
Doing now (て います)I am wanting something
Please (て ください)please want something

Potential

可能形 · “can”

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI can want something
NegativeI can’t want something

Want to

たい形 · “want to”

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI want to want something
NegativeI don’t want to want something

Volitional

意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”

Form Polite Plain
Let’slet’s want something

Conditional

条件形 · “if” and “when”

  1. If (ば) if I want something
  2. If, when (たら) if I want something

Commands and requests

命令形 · from gentle to blunt

  1. Do it (なさい) want something (do it)
  2. Plain command want something!
  3. Please don’t please don’t want something

Passive and causative

受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”

Form Polite Plain
PassiveI am wanted something
CausativeI make someone want something

How to use ほしがる

One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.

  1. Present and future

    むすこ は あたらしい ゲーム を ほしがります。

    My son wants a new game.

  2. Past

    いもうと は ずっと いぬ を ほしがった。

    My little sister wanted a dog for ages.

  3. Te-form

    メープル は わたし の おやつ を ほしがって いる。

    Maple wants my snack.

  4. Potential

    にんげん は、 いくら でも ほしがれる いきもの だ。

    Humans are creatures that can always want more.

  5. Want to

    もの を ほしがりたくない のに、 こうこく を みる と ほしく なる。

    I don't want to crave things, but adverts make me want them.

  6. Volitional

    こども が どんな に ほしがろう と、 かいません。

    However much the kids want it, I'm not buying it.

  7. Conditional

    そんな に ほしがれば、 おじいちゃん が かって くれる よ。

    If you want it that badly, Grandpa will buy it for you.

  8. Commands and requests

    ひと の もの を ほしがらないで ください。

    Please don't covet other people's things.

  9. Passive and causative

    この おかし は こども に いちばん ほしがられる。

    These sweets are the ones kids want most.

Good to know

  • ほしい is for what you want; ほしがる for what someone else wants, with を: おとうと は じてんしゃ を ほしがって いる.
  • がる after たい works the same way: いきたがる, to want to go, said of someone else.

Where you hear ほしがる

The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.

Japanese · Intermediate Level 3

  • メープル は、 いつも わたし の ごはん を ほしがる。 Maple always wants my food.
  • そうた は、 ずっと あたらしい くつ を ほしがって いた。 Sota wanted new shoes for ages.
  • あした、 そうた は きっと おとしだま を ほしがる よ。 Tomorrow, Sota is sure to want New Year money.

Verbs like this one

The same pattern, on other verbs: godan verb (u-verb).