JLPT N4 grammar
〜たがる — Meaning & Examples
"Other people want to ~". Used because Japanese acknowledges you can't fully know others' feelings — it means "shows signs of wanting".
Other People’s Wishes — ーたがる
For talking about what SOMEONE ELSE wants to do:
Form: verb stem + たがる (or たがっている for ongoing)
子どもはケーキをたべたがります。(kodomo wa kēki o tabetagarimasu.)
= The kids want to eat cake.
彼は日本にいきたがっています。(kare wa nihon ni ikitagatte imasu.)
= He wants to go to Japan.
Why two forms?
Japanese is careful: you can't fully know someone else's inner feelings. たがる means "shows signs of wanting" — it's based on what you observe.
Quick rule:
わたし + たい
Other people + たがる
Questions (to anyone) + たいですか
Practice questions
Try these 2 questions on 〜たがる. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. When can you use 〜たい?
- For anyone
- Only for yourself and questions
- Only for other people
- Only in past tense
Show answer
Answer: Only for yourself and questions
〜たい is only for YOURSELF (わたしは...たい) and questions (...たいですか). For others, use 〜たがる.
2. "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.
Practise 〜たがる 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 〜たがる mean?
"Other people want to ~". Used because Japanese acknowledges you can't fully know others' feelings — it means "shows signs of wanting".
Is 〜たがる on the JLPT N4 test?
〜たがる 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 〜たがる?
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.