JLPT N4 grammar
ほしい — Meaning & Examples
"Want a thing." Always uses が: [thing]がほしい. An い-adjective. Different from たい which is for ACTIONS.
ほしい — "Want a Thing"
ほしい means "want" — but for THINGS, not actions.
Pattern: [thing] がほしいです。
新しい車がほしいです。(atarashii kuruma ga hoshii desu.)
= I want a new car.
お金がほしいです。(okane ga hoshii desu.)
= I want money.
もう一つチョコレートがほしいです。(mou hitotsu chokorēto ga hoshii desu.)
= I want one more chocolate.
Important: ほしい is an い-adjective!
Negative: ほしくない (hoshikunai) = don't want
Past: ほしかった (hoshikatta) = wanted
プレゼントはほしくないです。(purezento wa hoshikunai desu.) = I don't want a present.
おやすみがほしかった。(oyasumi ga hoshikatta.) = I wanted a break.
たい vs ほしい:
たい = want to DO (verb)
ほしい = want a THING (noun)
ケーキをたべたい (kēki o tabetai, want to eat cake) vs ケーキがほしい (kēki ga hoshii, want a cake)
Practice questions
Try these 3 questions on ほしい. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. "My child wants to eat cake" uses which form?
- たべたい (tabetai)
- たべてみたい (tabete mitai)
- たべてほしい (tabete hoshii)
- たべたがる (tabetagaru)
Show answer
Answer: たべたがる (tabetagaru)
For other people's wants, use 〜たがる. Japanese acknowledges you can't fully know someone else's feelings.
2. How do you say "I want a new car"?
- 新しい車をほしいです
- 新しい車にほしいです
- 新しい車をたいです
- 新しい車がほしいです
Show answer
Answer: 新しい車がほしいです
ほしい takes が, not を. 新しい車がほしいです = I want a new car.
3. Difference between たい and ほしい?
- たい for verbs (actions), ほしい for things (nouns)
- たい for past, ほしい for future
- No difference
- ほしい is more polite
Show answer
Answer: たい for verbs (actions), ほしい for things (nouns)
たい = want to DO (verb). ほしい = want a THING. ケーキをたべたい vs ケーキがほしい.
Practise ほしい in the free app
This point is part of the “Expressing Wishes and Desires” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N4 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N4 grammar points
From the same lesson: Expressing Wishes and Desires
Frequently asked questions
What does ほしい mean?
"Want a thing." Always uses が: [thing]がほしい. An い-adjective. Different from たい which is for ACTIONS.
Is ほしい on the JLPT N4 test?
ほしい is taught in the JLPT N4 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “Expressing Wishes and Desires”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise ほしい?
Open the “Expressing Wishes and Desires” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N4 mock exams, with no ads.