- Take the ます form, replace ます with たい: たべます → たべたい (want to eat).
- Add です to be polite: たべたいです.
- たい conjugates like an い-adjective: たべたくない (don’t want to), たべたかった (wanted to).
- For wanting a thing, use ほしい: みずがほしいです (I want water).
How to make it
| Dictionary | ます form | たい form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| たべる | たべます | たべたい | want to eat |
| いく | いきます | いきたい | want to go |
| のむ | のみます | のみたい | want to drink |
| する | します | したい | want to do |
| くる | きます | きたい | want to come |
- ラーメンがたべたいですrāmen ga tabetai desuI want to eat ramen.
- にほんにいきたいですNihon ni ikitai desuI want to go to Japan.
- にほんごがはなせるようになりたいですnihongo ga hanaseru yō ni naritai desuI want to become able to speak Japanese.
Negative and past
たい behaves like an い-adjective:
| Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| present | いきたいです | I want to go |
| negative | いきたくないです | I don’t want to go |
| past | いきたかったです | I wanted to go |
| past negative | いきたくなかったです | I didn’t want to go |
Wanting things: ほしい
- あたらしいスマホがほしいですatarashii sumaho ga hoshii desuI want a new smartphone.
- なにがほしいですかnani ga hoshii desu kaWhat do you want?
- じかんがほしいjikan ga hoshiiI want (more) time.
What other people want
Like feelings, wishes are personal in Japanese. For others, use 〜たがっている (shows signs of wanting) or ask directly:
- なにがしたいですかnani ga shitai desu kaWhat do you want to do?Fine as a question to friends. With superiors, avoid asking about their wishes this directly.
- おとうとはにほんにいきたがっていますotōto wa Nihon ni ikitagatte imasuMy younger brother wants to go to Japan.
Polite invitations use 〜ませんか instead: いっしょにたべませんか, would you like to eat together?
Talking about dreams and plans
- いつかにほんにすみたいですitsuka Nihon ni sumitai desuSomeday I want to live in Japan.
- ふじさんにのぼりたいですFujisan ni noboritai desuI want to climb Mount Fuji.
- なにがしたい？nani ga shitai?What do you want to do? (casual)
- どこにいきたいですかdoko ni ikitai desu kaWhere do you want to go?
- とくになにもしたくないですtoku ni nani mo shitakunai desuI don’t particularly want to do anything.
たい for soft requests
Adding んですが to a たい sentence turns it into a polite, indirect request, very common in shops and offices:
- これをかえしたいんですがkore o kaeshitai n desu gaI’d like to return this…
- よやくしたいんですがyoyaku shitai n desu gaI’d like to make a reservation…
- しつもんしたいんですがshitsumon shitai n desu gaI’d like to ask something…
A common mistake
Don’t use たい to invite someone or to ask a superior what they want: なにがたべたいですか is fine among friends, but with a boss it can sound too direct. For invitations, use いっしょにいきませんか (won’t you come along?).
“I want to drink coffee.”
“I don’t want to go.”
“I want a cat.”
Frequently asked questions
How do you say I want to in Japanese?
Replace ます with たい: たべます (eat) → たべたい (want to eat). Add です to be polite: たべたいです.
What is the difference between tai and hoshii?
たい attaches to verbs (want to do something), ほしい is used with nouns (want something): みずがのみたい (want to drink water) vs. みずがほしい (want water).
How do you say I don't want to in Japanese?
Change たい to たくない: いきたくないです means 'I don't want to go'.
How do you politely say I would like to in Japanese?
Use the tai form + んですが: 予約したいんですが, 'I'd like to make a reservation…'. Trailing off is polite and natural.