N467/179

がほしい

Noun + がほしい

Meanings

  • to want something
  • to be in need of (for oneself)

About this pattern

Explanation

欲しい (ほしい) expresses a personal desire for something. used when the speaker wants to have or possess a thing. The subject of がほしい is the person who wants it, marked with が. It mainly describes things the speaker wants for themselves; if you want something for someone else, you can use 〜を〜てあげたい or 〜をほしがる for third-person needs. Forms change with tense and politeness: 欲しい (present, informal), 欲しくない (negative), 欲しかった (past), 欲しかったです (polite past). Examples show concrete objects or experiences the speaker wishes to obtain.

Learn in context

Example sentences

私は新しい本がほしい。

I want a new book.

彼は車がほしい。

He wants a car.

母はこのバッグがほしい。

My mother wants this bag.

あなたは何がほしいですか?

What do you want?

この鉛筆がほしい。

I want this pencil.