JLPT N4 grammar
〜てほしい — Meaning & Examples
"Want someone to do ~". て-form + ほしい. Used for asking favours/wishes about other people's actions. Can sound demanding — use carefully with superiors.
ーてほしい — "Want Someone to Do"
To say "I want SOMEONE ELSE to do something", combine て-form + ほしい.
Pattern: [person] に [verb-て] ほしい
子どもにピアノを習ってほしいです。(kodomo ni piano o naratte hoshii desu.)
= I want my child to learn piano.
わたしはあなたにここにいてほしいです。(watashi wa anata ni koko ni ite hoshii desu.)
= I want you to stay here.
先生にもう一度説明してほしい。(sensei ni mou ichido setsumei shite hoshii.)
= I want the teacher to explain one more time.
Negative (don't want someone to do):
verb-ないで + ほしい
たばこをすわないでほしいです。(tabako o suwanaide hoshii desu.) = I don't want you to smoke.
Be careful:
てほしい can sound demanding. With superiors, use the more polite ていただきたい (= would like to receive).
Practice questions
Try these 3 questions on 〜てほしい. 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. わたしはあなたにここにいてほしい (watashi wa anata ni koko ni ite hoshii) means?
- I want to be here
- Stay here please
- You want to be here
- I want you to stay here
Show answer
Answer: I want you to stay here
〜てほしい = want SOMEONE ELSE to do ~. いてほしい = want (you) to stay.
3. たばこをすわないでほしい (tabako o suwanaide hoshii) means?
- I want to smoke
- I want to stop smoking
- I don't want you to smoke
- Smoking is bad
Show answer
Answer: I don't want you to smoke
Negative 〜てほしい uses ないで form. すわないでほしい = don't want you to smoke.
Practise 〜てほしい 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 〜てほしい mean?
"Want someone to do ~". て-form + ほしい. Used for asking favours/wishes about other people's actions. Can sound demanding — use carefully with superiors.
Is 〜てほしい on the JLPT N4 test?
〜てほしい 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 〜てほしい?
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.