By ProDev Teach | Updated May 2025
📘 Meaning & Usage
The grammar pattern ～がほしい is used to express that you want something. It is used with nouns and is commonly used in the first person.
Structure:
[Noun] + が + ほしいです
Translation: I want [noun]
💡 Example Sentences
- 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. - 友達がほしいです。
Tomodachi ga hoshii desu.
I want a friend.
📝 Grammar Notes
- This pattern is mainly used to express one’s own desire. To ask others what they want, use the form ～がほしいですか.
- It is not commonly used to talk about someone else’s wants. Use ～をほしがっています to describe another person’s desire.
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blanks
- 私は新しい靴＿＿ほしいです。
- ケーキ＿＿ほしいですか。
- 彼女は猫＿＿ほしがっています。
✔ Answers:
- が
- が
- が
2. Translate into Japanese
- I want a new phone.
- Do you want coffee?
- He wants a dog.
✔ Sample Answers:
- 私は新しい電話がほしいです。
- コーヒーがほしいですか。
- 彼は犬をほしがっています。
🈶 Vocabulary & Kanji Breakdown
| Word | Kanji | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 新しい | 新 | あたらしい | New |
| 車 | 車 | くるま | Car |
| お金 | お金 | おかね | Money |
| 友達 | 友達 | ともだち | Friend |
| 靴 | 靴 | くつ | Shoes |
| ケーキ | – | けーき | Cake |
| 猫 | 猫 | ねこ | Cat |
| 電話 | 電話 | でんわ | Phone |
| コーヒー | – | こーひー | Coffee |
| 犬 | 犬 | いぬ | Dog |
| ほしい | 欲しい | ほしい | To want (adj.) |
| ほしがっています | 欲しがっている | ほしがっています | Want (used for others) |
🔗 Related Grammar
- ～たい: Want to do something (used with verbs)
- ～をほしがっている: Used to express what someone else wants
🧠 Summary
- Meaning: I want (something)
- Form: Noun + が + ほしいです
- Usage: Used to express desire for things
- Level: JLPT N5
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I’m a software engineer based in Japan, with experience in developing web and mobile applications. I’m passionate about technology, especially in DevOps, AI, and app development using platforms like AWS, Flutter, and Node.js. My goal is to build a website that shares knowledge about the Japanese language and IT, helping everyone learn and grow more easily in the digital era.
