B1 Expression Neutral

～てほしい

~te hoshii

I want you to do ~

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use ～てほしい to express that you want someone else to do something for you.

  • Means: Expresses a personal desire for another person's action.
  • Used in: Making requests, expressing expectations, or stating personal needs.
  • Don't confuse: Do not use this for your own actions; use ～たい instead.
Subject + Verb-te form + ほしい = Clear expectation

Explanation at your level:

Use this to say you want someone to do something. For example, 'I want you to eat' is '食べてほしい'. It is very useful for daily life.
This phrase is used to express your desires regarding others' actions. It is formed by taking a verb in its te-form and adding 'ほしい'. It is common among friends and family.
The expression ～てほしい is a standard way to communicate expectations. It is essential for B1 learners to understand that this is a personal request. It is not a command, but it is more direct than a polite question. It is widely used in informal and semi-formal settings to express needs clearly.
At the B2 level, you should recognize that ～てほしい carries a specific nuance of personal desire. Unlike the polite request form '～てください', which focuses on the action, '～てほしい' focuses on the speaker's internal state of wanting. This distinction is crucial for navigating social hierarchies and maintaining appropriate interpersonal distance in Japanese society.
The usage of ～てほしい reflects the speaker's agency in expressing their needs. In C1 discourse, it is important to distinguish between the subjective desire expressed by '～てほしい' and the more objective, honorific-laden requests used in professional environments. Mastery involves knowing when to shift to '～ていただきたい' to avoid sounding overly demanding or self-centered in high-stakes social interactions.
From a cognitive linguistic perspective, ～てほしい functions as a modal expression of desire that projects the speaker's volition onto the addressee. It is a hallmark of Japanese 'uchi-soto' (inside-outside) dynamics, where the expression of personal desire is mediated by the perceived closeness of the relationship. Advanced users must navigate the pragmatic implications of this phrase, ensuring that the expression of 'want' does not infringe upon the 'face' of the interlocutor.

Meaning

Expressing a desire for someone else to perform an action.

🌍

Cultural Background

Directness is often seen as rude; use with caution.

💡

Softening

Add 'な' to the end to sound softer.

Meaning

Expressing a desire for someone else to perform an action.

💡

Softening

Add 'な' to the end to sound softer.

Test Yourself

Complete the sentence: 早く (come) ほしい。

早く＿＿ほしい。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 来て

Must use the te-form.

🎉 Score: /1

Visual Learning Aids

Frequently Asked Questions

1 questions

No, it is too direct.

Related Phrases

🔗

～ていただきたい

formal

I would like you to...

Where to Use It

🤝

Asking a friend for help

A: 重いから、手伝ってほしい。

informal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'te' as 'take' and 'hoshii' as 'ho-see'. I want you to 'take' what I 'ho-see' (hope to see).

Visual Association

Imagine pointing at a friend and saying 'I want you to do this' while holding a sign that says 'Hoshii'.

Rhyme

Te-form plus Hoshii, that's the request for you and me.

Story

You are at a cafe. You want your friend to order for you. You say 'Coffee, 頼んでほしい (tanonde-hoshii)'. They smile and order it.

Word Web

ほしい～たい～てください～ていただく～てくれる願う

Challenge

Write 5 sentences about things you want your friends to do this weekend.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Quiero que...

Japanese requires the te-form of the verb.

French high

Je veux que tu...

Japanese is a single verb phrase.

German moderate

Ich möchte, dass du...

Japanese doesn't use a conjunction like 'dass'.

Japanese self

～てほしい

N/A

Arabic high

أريدك أن...

Arabic uses an object pronoun directly.

Chinese moderate

我希望你...

Japanese is more explicit about desire.

Korean high

-아/어 주길 바란다

Korean often uses 'hope' (바란다) for requests.

Portuguese high

Eu quero que você...

Japanese does not have a subjunctive mood.

Easily Confused

～てほしい vs ～たい

Learners use it for others.

～たい is for 'I' want to do.

FAQ (1)

No, it is too direct.

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