JLPT N4 grammar
〜たい — Meaning & Examples
"I want to do ~". Verb stem + たい. Used for yourself and questions only. Works like an い-adjective: たくない (don't want), たかった (wanted).
ーたい — "I Want to Do"
You learned 〜たい at N5, but let's review and go deeper.
Form: verb stem + たい
たべる → たべたい (taberu → tabetai, want to eat)
いく → いきたい (iku → ikitai, want to go)
しる → しりたい (shiru → shiritai, want to know)
Important: 〜たい only works for YOURSELF and questions.
○ わたしはケーキをたべたい。(watashi wa kēki o tabetai.) (I want to eat cake.)
○ ケーキをたべたいですか。(kēki o tabetai desu ka?) (Do you want cake?)
× 彼はケーキをたべたい。(kare wa kēki o tabetai.) (He wants cake. — WRONG!)
For third person, use たがる instead (see below).
Particles with たい:
を can become が with たい:
スシをたべたい = スシがたべたい (sushi o tabetai = sushi ga tabetai) (both fine)
が sounds slightly more emphatic.
Practice questions
Try these 3 questions on 〜たい. 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.
3. 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.
Practise 〜たい 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 〜たい mean?
"I want to do ~". Verb stem + たい. Used for yourself and questions only. Works like an い-adjective: たくない (don't want), たかった (wanted).
Is 〜たい on the JLPT N4 test?
〜たい 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 〜たい?
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.