Meaning
Expresses the speaker's wish for another person to perform an action.
Formation
- て form + ほしい — 話してほしいです
- The doer takes に: 弟に考えてほしい
- Negative: Vないでほしい
When to use it
- Core use
- Want someone else to do it
Examples
20 sentences-
もう少しゆっくり話してほしいです
I want you to speak a little more slowly.
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弟には自分で考えてほしいです
I want my younger brother to think for himself.
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明日は早く来てほしいです
I want you to come early tomorrow.
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この秘密は誰にも言わないでほしいです
I do not want you to tell anyone this secret.
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子どもにはもっと本を読んでほしいです
I want children to read more books.
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引っ越しを手伝ってほしいです
I want you to help me move.
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答えをはっきり書いてほしいです
I want you to write the answer clearly.
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両親にはいつまでも元気でいてほしいです
I want my parents to stay healthy forever.
12 more examples
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町にもっと公園を作ってほしいです
I want more parks to be built in the town.
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私のことを信じてほしいです
I want you to believe me.
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小さな荷物を運んでほしいです
I want you to carry the small luggage.
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青い封筒を選んでほしいです
I want you to choose a blue envelope.
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古い雑誌を捨ててほしいです
I want you to throw away the old magazines.
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台所の窓を開けてほしいです
I want you to open the kitchen window.
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旅行の写真を見てほしいです
I want you to look at the travel photos.
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短い手紙を書いてほしいです
I want you to write a short letter.
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友達の話を聞いてほしいです
I want you to listen to my friend's story.
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駅の名前を覚えてほしいです
I want you to memorize the station name.
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家の鍵を探してほしいです
I want you to look for the house key.
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晩ご飯の準備をしてほしいです
I want you to prepare dinner.
Important notes
- The desired doer usually takes に: 友達に来てほしい.
Common mistakes
- たい expresses the subject's own desire to act; てほしい expresses a desire for someone else's action.
Check yourself
Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.
Similar grammar
Hear it in podcasts
The pattern appears in these episodes. They open in the app with the transcript and translation.
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