When you want something or do something, you use “want” in English, but in Japanese?

You often hear Japanese people use both 〜ほしい and  〜たい.

Are you always confused?

Don’t worry, the only difference between the two is whether you want the things(= a noun) or want to do(= a verb).😊

 

[Unnatural sentence]

 

まだ月曜日だけど、もう休むほしいなあ。

-まだげつようびだけど、もうやすむほしいなあ。

-It’s only Monday, but I wish I had a day off already.

 

Can you find a mistake?

 

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[Sensei’s correction]

 

まだ月曜日だけど、もう休むほしいなあ。

→まだ月曜日だけど、もう休みがほしいなあ。

→まだ月曜日だけど、もう休みたいなあ。

 

Why is 休むほしい incorrect?

休む is a verb, a verb can’t be used with ほしい when you want to do something.

ほしい is used with a noun.

It is used when you want “something (object).

If you want to say “you want to do…(action)”, use 〜たい.

 

[noun]がほしい
=want N

車(くるま)がほしい

新(あたら)しいゲームがほしい

休み(day off)がほしい

 

[verb masu-form]ます+たい
=want to do

休みます take a break

休み＋たい
休みたい
want to take a break

 

There is a grammar that 〜ほしい uses with a verb te-form.

It is used when you want someone to do something for you.

[verb te-form]て＋ほしい
=want someone to do

休んでほしい
=want someone to take a break for me
=I don’t take a break, others do.

 

This grammar is not something you want to do.

 

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Did my explanation enhance your understanding?

 

〜たい/〜ほしい are JLPT N5 (Beginner level) grammar.

Even if you are more advanced, you have strengthened your Japanese by reviewing it in my video.

Beginner you, you’ve learned a new difficult grammar today!😊

 

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