～ほしい (hoshii) - Expressing Desire for Objects

First, let's look at what hoshii actually is. In English, "want" is a verb. In Japanese, hoshii is actually an i-adjective. This is a huge distinction! Because it is an adjective, it behaves like oishii (delicious) or takai (expensive). It describes your state of feeling desire toward something. Since it is an adjective, the object you want is usually marked with the particle ga. This might feel weird at first. You aren't "wanting" the object as an action. Instead, the object is "desirable" to you. It is like saying "The cake is want-able." Don't worry, even native speakers sometimes use o in casual speech. But for your exams and polite talk, stick with ga. It makes you sound much more natural.

1. 1Using hoshii is like building a LEGO set. Follow these steps:
2. 2Start with the thing you want (the Noun).
3. 3Add the particle ga to point to that thing.
4. 4Finish with hoshii (or hoshii desu for politeness).
5. 5Structure: [Noun] + ga + hoshii.
6. 6To make it negative (I don't want), change it like any i-adjective:
7. 7Drop the final i.
8. 8Add kunai.
9. 9Result: hoshikunai.
10. 10To talk about the past (I wanted):
11. 11Drop the final i.
12. 12Add katta.
13. 13Result: hoshikatta.

You use hoshii when you want a thing. This could be a physical object like a kuruma (car). It could also be something abstract like jikan (time) or yasumi (a holiday). Use it when you are talking about your own desires. It is perfect for casual chats with friends. "I want a cat!" becomes Neko ga hoshii! Use it when someone asks you what you want for your birthday. It is the go-to phrase for Christmas lists. You can also use it in shops when a clerk asks what you are looking for. However, remember that it sounds quite direct. In a very formal job interview, you might choose softer language. But for 90% of life, hoshii is your best friend.

Here is a golden rule: Do not use hoshii for actions. If you want to do something (like eat or go), use the ~tai form instead. Hoshii is strictly for nouns. Also, be careful when talking about other people. In Japanese culture, it is considered a bit presumptuous to claim you know exactly what someone else is feeling. You wouldn't usually say "Tanaka-san wants a watch" using just hoshii. It sounds like you are reading his mind! Instead, you would use hoshi-gatte iru or say "He *says* he wants." Lastly, avoid using it to offer things to superiors. Asking your boss "Do you want coffee?" with hoshii desu ka? can sound a bit childish or blunt. It is like asking a king if he wants a cracker. Use more polite offering forms like ikaga desu ka instead.

The biggest trap is the particle o. Many learners say mizu o hoshii. Because hoshii is an adjective, your brain needs to switch to ga. Think of ga as a spotlight highlighting the item on your wishlist. Another mistake is using it for verbs. You cannot say taberu ga hoshii. That is a grammar car crash! Use tabetai for that. Also, remember the third-person rule mentioned earlier. If you see your friend looking at a PS5, don't say Kare wa PS5 ga hoshii desu. It sounds like you have psychic powers. Use hoshi-sou (he looks like he wants) instead. Yes, even native speakers mess this up when they are tired, but you are a pro!

How does hoshii differ from ~tai? It is simple. Hoshii is for Nouns (things). ~tai is for Verbs (actions).

• Ringo ga hoshii = I want an apple.
• Ringo o tabetai = I want to eat an apple.

What about ~te hoshii? That is a different beast entirely. That pattern means you want someone else to do something. For now, just focus on the basic hoshii for objects. Think of hoshii as the "shopping mall" grammar. You are looking at things you can touch or own.