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欲しい
hoshii
want
新しい車が欲しいです。
I want a new car.
informal
To desire or wish for something; to want something.
この本が欲しい。
I want this book.
時間が欲しい。
I want more time.
欲しい is an adjective and requires the particle が or を depending on context. It expresses a personal desire rather than a general need.
formal
To be desired or sought after; to be wanted.
この商品は人気で、とても欲しいと言われています。
This product is popular and is said to be highly desired.
Used to describe something that others want or find desirable.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Particle Usage
Use が with 欲しい when expressing a personal desire (e.g., 本が欲しい 'I want a book'). Use を when the object is the direct recipient of the desire (e.g., この本を欲しい 'I want this book').
Gold Rule
欲しい vs. たい
欲しい expresses a desire for something outside oneself (e.g., この本が欲しい 'I want this book'), while たい expresses a desire to do something (e.g., この本を読みたい 'I want to read this book').
Word Origin
From Old Japanese ほし ('to want') + い (adjectival suffix). The root ほし is related to the verb ほる ('to want') and is cognate with similar words in other Japonic languages.
Usage Notes
欲しい is used to express personal desire and is often followed by the particle が or を. It is less formal than 望む or 求める and is commonly used in casual conversation. In polite requests, it can be softened with ください (e.g., これを欲しいです → これを欲しいです、ください).
Word Breakdown
欲
desire/want
rootしい
adjectival suffix
suffix和英辞典