たい (tai) vs ほしい (hoshii)
What's the Difference?
Quick Answer
Use たい for actions and ほしい for objects. たい is about the desire to perform an action, while ほしい is about the desire to possess something.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Aspect | たい (tai) | ほしい (hoshii) |
|---|---|---|
| JLPT | N5 | N5 |
| Formality | neutral | neutral |
| Desire Type | Desire to perform an action | Desire to possess something |
| Grammar | Attached to verb stems | Used as a predicate or attached to nouns |
| Context | Often used for personal desires or intentions | Often used for desires related to objects or possessions |
たい (tai)
JLPT: N5 | Formality: neutral
- Desire Type: Desire to perform an action
- Grammar: Attached to verb stems
- Context: Often used for personal desires or intentions
ほしい (hoshii)
JLPT: N5 | Formality: neutral
- Desire Type: Desire to possess something
- Grammar: Used as a predicate or attached to nouns
- Context: Often used for desires related to objects or possessions
Example Sentences
たい (tai)
食べたいです
tabetai desu
I want to eat
日本に行きたいです
Nihon ni ikitai desu
I want to go to Japan
走りたいと思います
hashirita to omoimasu
I think I want to run
ほしい (hoshii)
新しい車が欲しいです
atashii kuruma ga hoshii desu
I want a new car
あの本は読みたいと思います
ano hon wa yomitai to omoimasu
I think I want to read that book
彼女は新しいバッグが欲しいと言っています
kanojo wa atashii baggu ga hoshii to itte imasu
She says she wants a new bag
Common Mistakes
- ⚠ Using たい for objects, e.g., 'この本が食べたい' instead of 'この本が欲しい'
- ⚠ Using ほしい for actions, e.g., '走るがほしい' instead of '走りたい'
- ⚠ Confusing the two in sentences, e.g., '日本に行くが欲しい' instead of '日本に行きたい'
Memory Tip
💡 Think of たい as 'targeting an action' and ほしい as 'having something' to help you distinguish between the two
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