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B1 noun #5,000 most common 13 min read

〜がる

garu
Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 〜がる in 30 Seconds
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Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

〜がる in 30 Seconds

  • Expresses observable emotions/desires of others.
  • Attach to adjective stems (drop い) or verb stems.
  • Used for third persons only, not yourself.
  • Adds nuance of inference and observation.
Core Meaning
The Japanese suffix 〜がる (garu) is a grammatical tool used to express the observable emotions, feelings, desires, or states of someone else. It is typically attached to the stem of i-adjectives and na-adjectives, and sometimes to verbs, to indicate that the subject appears to be experiencing or wanting something. It's crucial to remember that 〜がる is used when you are describing the feelings or desires of a third person, not your own. When referring to your own feelings, you would use the adjective or verb directly without 〜がる. This distinction is fundamental to its correct usage and understanding.
Attachment Rules
When attaching 〜がる to i-adjectives, the final い (i) is dropped. For example, 暑い (atsui - hot) becomes 暑がる (atsugaru - to seem hot/to feel hot). For na-adjectives, 〜がる is directly attached after the adjective stem. For instance, 嬉しい (ureshii - happy) becomes 嬉しがる (ureshigaru - to seem happy/to show happiness). In some cases, it can be attached to verb stems, though this is less common and often carries a nuance of appearing to do something or wanting to do something. For example, 泣く (naku - to cry) can become 泣きたがる (nakitagaru - to seem like they want to cry).
Observational Nuance
A key aspect of 〜がる is its observational nature. It implies that the speaker is inferring the person's feelings or desires based on their behavior or outward appearance. It's not a direct statement of the person's internal state, but rather an interpretation by the speaker. This is why it's primarily used for third parties; you can't objectively observe your own internal feelings in the same way you observe someone else's. This suffix adds a layer of empathy and interpretation to language, allowing speakers to describe nuanced social interactions and emotional cues.
Examples in Context
Consider the difference between 「私は暑いです」(Watashi wa atsui desu - I am hot) and 「彼は暑がっています」(Kare wa atsu-gatte imasu - He seems hot/He looks like he's feeling hot). The latter uses 〜がる to describe the boy's apparent discomfort. Similarly, 「子供は欲しがります」(Kodomo wa hoshi-garimasu - The child seems to want it) expresses the child's desire as observed by the speaker. This suffix allows for a more indirect and observational way of communicating about others' emotional states, making Japanese conversations feel more nuanced and context-aware.
Variations and Tense
Like other verbs, 〜がる can be conjugated into various tenses. The polite present/future tense is 〜がります (garimasu), the polite past tense is 〜がりました (garimashita), the plain present/future tense is 〜がる (garu), and the plain past tense is 〜がった (gatta). It can also be used in its continuous form, 〜がっている (gatte iru), to indicate an ongoing state of appearing to feel or desire something. For instance, 「猫が寒がっている」(Neko ga samugatte iru - The cat seems to be cold) describes a current observation. The negative forms are also possible, such as 〜がらさない (garasanai) or 〜がりません (garimasen).

子供は寒がっていました。彼は震えていましたから。〜がる.

Adjective Stems
The most common usage of 〜がる is with the stems of i-adjectives and na-adjectives. For i-adjectives, the final い is removed before adding がる. For example, 嬉しい (ureshii - happy) becomes 嬉しがる (ureshi-garu - to appear happy). For na-adjectives, you simply add がる to the stem. For instance, 寂しい (sabishii - lonely) becomes 寂しがる (sabishi-garu - to appear lonely). This transformation allows you to express how someone else seems to be feeling an emotion.
Example: 「妹は新しいおもちゃを見て、とても嬉しがっていた。」(Imōto wa atarashii omocha o mite, totemo ureshi-gatte ita. - My sister, seeing the new toy, seemed very happy.)
Verb Stems (Desire)
〜がる can also be attached to the stem of certain verbs, often to express a desire. When used with verbs, it's frequently preceded by たい (tai), which itself indicates desire. So, you'll see patterns like 〜たがる (ta-garu). This construction signifies that someone else appears to want to do something.
Example: 「子供たちは公園で遊びたがっています。」(Kodomo-tachi wa kōen de asobi-tagatte imasu. - The children seem to want to play in the park.)
Another nuance is when it attaches to verbs that describe an action, implying the person wants to perform that action. For example, 欲しい (hoshii - want) can become 欲しがる (hoshi-garu), meaning 'to seem to want (something)'.
Tense and Politeness
The verb 〜がる conjugates like any other godan verb. The polite present tense is 〜がります (garimasu), and the plain present tense is 〜がる (garu). The polite past tense is 〜がりました (garimashita), and the plain past tense is 〜がった (gatta). The continuous form 〜がっている (gatte iru) is also very common to describe an ongoing state of appearing to feel or desire something.
Example (Past Polite): 「彼は寒がりましたが、コートを着ませんでした。」(Kare wa samugarimashita ga, kōto o ki-masen deshita. - He seemed to be cold, but he didn't wear a coat.)
Example (Continuous Plain): 「彼女は退屈がっているようだ。」(Kanojo wa taikutsu-gatte iru yō da. - She seems to be bored.)
Third Person Focus
It is paramount to remember that 〜がる is almost exclusively used for the third person (he, she, they, or specific names). Using it for yourself would sound unnatural or incorrect. If you are feeling an emotion, you state it directly.
Incorrect: 「私は暑がっています。」(Watashi wa atsu-gatte imasu. - I seem to be hot.)
Correct: 「私は暑いです。」(Watashi wa atsui desu. - I am hot.)
This rule helps maintain the observational aspect of the suffix.
Expressing Concern or Observation
The suffix 〜がる is often employed when expressing concern or making an observation about someone else's well-being or state. It allows the speaker to communicate their perception of another's feelings without making a definitive statement about their internal experience. This is common in everyday conversation when discussing family, friends, or even strangers.
Example: 「隣の子供が泣きたがっているように見えたので、声をかけました。」(Tonari no kodomo ga nakitaga-tte iru yō ni mieta node, koe o kakemashita. - The child next door seemed like they wanted to cry, so I spoke to them.)

The child seems to want candy. He is looking at the store with big eyes and pointing.〜がる.

Everyday Conversations
You will frequently hear 〜がる in casual conversations among friends, family, and colleagues. It's a natural way to comment on how someone else appears to be feeling or what they seem to want. For instance, if you're watching children play, you might say, 「あの子供は疲れているみたい。座りたがっているよ。」(Ano kodomo wa tsukarete iru mitai. Suwari-tagatte iru yo. - That child looks tired. They seem to want to sit down.) This is a very common and natural expression.
Another common scenario is when discussing someone's physical discomfort: 「弟は暑がっていたので、窓を開けてあげました。」(Otōto wa atsu-gatte ita node, mado o akete agemashita. - My younger brother seemed hot, so I opened the window for him.)
Parent-Child Interactions
Parents often use 〜がる when describing their children's emotions or desires to others, or even to the child themselves in a gentle way. For example, a mother might tell her husband, 「娘は新しいドレスを欲しがっています。」(Musume wa atarashii doresu o hoshi-gatte imasu. - Our daughter seems to want a new dress.) Or, observing a child's distress, 「彼は痛がっていますよ。」(Kare wa itami-gatte imasu yo. - He seems to be in pain.) This usage highlights the observational and empathetic nature of the suffix.
Children themselves might also use it, though less frequently, to describe how a sibling or friend appears: 「お兄ちゃん、お腹が空いたがってるよ。」(Onii-chan, onaka ga suita-gatteru yo. - Big brother seems hungry.)
Media and Fiction
In Japanese literature, manga, anime, and dramas, 〜がる is widely used to convey characters' inner states and motivations. Authors and scriptwriters use it to add depth to character portrayals, showing how characters perceive each other's feelings. For example, a narrator might describe a character's reaction: 「彼女は不安がっているようだった。」(Kanojo wa fuan-gatte iru yō datta. - She seemed to be feeling anxious.) This allows the audience to infer a character's emotional journey and internal conflicts.
A common trope involves characters observing others who are hesitant or shy: 「彼は恥ずかしがっていたが、結局話しかけてきた。」(Kare wa hazukashi-gatte ita ga, kekkyoku hanashikakete kita. - He seemed embarrassed, but in the end, he spoke to me.)
Describing Animals
The suffix 〜がる is also frequently used to describe the apparent feelings and desires of animals. Since we cannot directly ask animals how they feel, we rely on observing their behavior.
Example: 「うちの犬は散歩に行きたがっている。」(Uchi no inu wa sanpo ni iki-tagatte iru. - Our dog seems to want to go for a walk.)
Another example: 「猫が日向ぼっこをしながら、気持ちよさそうに喉を鳴らしていた。暖かさが嬉しがっているようだった。」(Neko ga hinatabokko o shi nagara, kimochi yosasō ni nodo o narashite ita. Atatakasa ga ureshi-gatte iru yō datta. - The cat was purring contentedly while sunbathing. It seemed to be happy about the warmth.)
Expressing Wishes and Needs
When someone appears to be wishing for something or expressing a need through their actions, 〜がる is the appropriate suffix.
Example: 「先生は、生徒たちがもっと質問したがるような授業を心がけている。」(Sensei wa, seito-tachi ga motto shitsumon shi-tagaru yō na jugyō o kokoro-gate iru. - The teacher is striving to conduct lessons in a way that students seem to want to ask more questions.)
This implies the teacher is creating an environment where students' curiosity is evident and they appear eager to participate.

The cat is purring and rubbing against my leg. It seems to want more attention.〜がる.

Using 〜がる for Oneself
The most frequent mistake learners make is using 〜がる to describe their own feelings. Remember, 〜がる is for observing and reporting on the emotions or desires of *others*. If you are feeling hot, you say 「暑いです」(atsui desu), not 「暑がっています」(atsugatte imasu). Similarly, if you are happy, you say 「嬉しいです」(ureshii desu), not 「嬉しがっています」(ureshi-gatte imasu). This is a fundamental rule that must be internalized.
Mistake: 「私は悲しがっています。」(Watashi wa kanashi-gatte imasu.)
Correct: 「私は悲しいです。」(Watashi wa kanashii desu.)
Incorrect Adjective Stem Formation
When attaching 〜がる to i-adjectives, learners sometimes forget to drop the final い (i). The correct formation is to remove the い and then add 〜がる. For example, from 寒い (samui - cold), it becomes 寒がる (samu-garu), not 寒いいがる (samui-garu).
Mistake: 「彼は寒いいがっています。」(Kare wa samui-gatte imasu.)
Correct: 「彼は寒がっています。」(Kare wa samu-gatte imasu.)
Confusing 〜がる with Direct Emotion
〜がる implies an observation or inference of someone else's feelings. It's not a direct statement of fact about their internal state. Learners might use it as if they are certain about the other person's feelings, when in fact they are only guessing or observing. The nuance is subtle but important.
Example of overuse: 「彼は怒っています。」(Kare wa okotte imasu. - He is angry.) vs. 「彼は怒っているようです。」(Kare wa okotte iru yō desu. - He seems to be angry.) The latter is often a safer and more accurate statement if you are inferring. 〜がる captures this inferential aspect.
Mistake: Using 〜がる to state a definite emotion of another person without clear evidence. It's better to use 〜がる when there are observable signs.
Overuse in Formal Settings
While 〜がる is common in everyday speech, in very formal or academic writing, direct statements of emotion might be preferred, or the nuance of inference might be conveyed differently. However, it is still used in formal contexts to describe observable phenomena. The key is to understand the register. In highly formal speech or writing where directness is paramount, you might see it less frequently than in casual conversation.
Consider the context. If you are reporting an objective observation in a formal report, you might use more direct language. However, in formal conversation where politeness and indirectness are valued, 〜がる can still be appropriate.
Incorrect Verb Stem Attachment
When attaching 〜がる to verb stems, especially with the たい form, ensure the correct conjugation. For example, from 「食べたい」(tabetai - want to eat), it becomes 食べたがる (tabe-tagaru), meaning 'seems to want to eat'. Learners might make errors in conjugating the verb stem or the たい form before adding 〜がる.
Mistake: 「彼は食べたいがる。」(Kare wa tabetai-garu.) - This might be understood, but the standard form is 食べ(i) -> 食べたい -> 食べたがる.
Correct: 「彼は食べさせたがっている。」(Kare wa tabe-sase-tagatte iru. - He seems to want to be fed.) Or simply 「彼は食べたいようです。」(Kare wa tabetai yō desu. - He seems to want to eat.)

Mistake: I am cold, so I am cold-garu. Correct: I am cold means 私は寒いです.

〜そう (sou) - Seems/Looks Like
Comparison: 〜そう (sou) is attached to the stem of i-adjectives (dropping the い) and na-adjectives (using the stem), and to the masu-stem of verbs. It expresses that something appears to be the case based on visual evidence or a general impression.
Difference: While both 〜がる and 〜そう can express appearance, 〜がる specifically focuses on observable emotions, feelings, or desires of a person or animal. 〜そう is more general and can apply to appearances of objects, situations, or states, not just emotions.
Example with 〜がる: 「子供は寒がっている。」(Kodomo wa samu-gatte iru. - The child seems cold.) - Focuses on the child's *feeling* of cold.
Example with 〜そう: 「空は寒そうに見える。」(Sora wa samusō ni mieru. - The sky looks cold.) - Describes the *appearance* of the sky, not a feeling.
Example with 〜そう (verb): 「彼は疲れているそうだ。」(Kare wa tsukarete iru sō da. - I hear he is tired. / He looks tired.) - General appearance of tiredness.
〜ようだ (yō da) / 〜みたい (mitai) - Seems Like/Appears To Be
Comparison: These are common phrases used to express conjecture or appearance. They are generally attached to the plain form of verbs and adjectives.
Difference: 〜ようだ and 〜みたい are broader in scope than 〜がる. They can express a general impression or a logical deduction. 〜がる is specifically tied to observable emotions or desires of a third party.
Example with 〜がる: 「彼女は寂しがっている。」(Kanojo wa sabishi-gatte iru. - She seems lonely.) - Observational, focusing on her emotional state.
Example with 〜ようだ: 「彼女は一人でいる。寂しいようだ。」(Kanojo wa hitori de iru. Sabishii yō da. - She is alone. It seems she is lonely.) - More of a deduction based on the situation.
Example with 〜みたい: 「雨が降りそうだ。傘を持っていったほうがいいみたい。」(Ame ga furi-sō da. Kasa o motte itta hō ga ii mitai. - It looks like it might rain. It seems like you should take an umbrella.) - General observation/suggestion.
〜たがる (ta-garu) - Seems to Want to Do
Comparison: This is a specific form of 〜がる, attached to the stem of verbs + たい. It directly expresses the apparent desire of someone else to perform an action.
Difference: While 〜がる is a general suffix for emotions and desires, 〜たがる is specifically for the *desire to do* something. It is a subset of 〜がる's usage.
Example with 〜がる (general desire): 「子供はお菓子を欲しがっている。」(Kodomo wa okashi o hoshi-gatte iru. - The child seems to want sweets.)
Example with 〜たがる (desire to act): 「彼はもっと話したがっている。」(Kare wa motto hanashi-tagatte iru. - He seems to want to talk more.)
〜ほしがる (hoshi-garu) - Seems to Want (Something)
Comparison: This is a direct application of 〜がる to the adjective 欲しい (hoshii - want). It means someone else appears to want something.
Difference: This is a specific instance of 〜がる, not an alternative. It's a very common and direct way to express observed desire for an object.
Example: 「猫は新しいおもちゃを欲しがっている。」(Neko wa atarashii omocha o hoshi-gatte iru. - The cat seems to want a new toy.)
Direct Emotion/Desire Statement
Comparison: Simply stating the emotion or desire directly, without any suffix.
Difference: This is the alternative when you *are* the subject or when you know the other person's feelings with certainty and are stating them directly. It lacks the observational nuance of 〜がる.
Example: 「私は暑いです。」(Watashi wa atsui desu. - I am hot.) - Direct statement of personal feeling.
Example: 「彼は暑いです。」(Kare wa atsui desu. - He is hot.) - This is a direct statement about him, perhaps based on observation, but doesn't carry the specific grammatical nuance of inferring emotion that 〜がる does.

The child looks like they want to play. He is holding a ball and looking at the playground.〜がる.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The evolution of 〜がる from 懸かる (kakaru) is a fascinating example of how grammatical functions can emerge from semantic shifts. Initially, it might have described a state that 'fell upon' a person, like illness or a strong emotion. This later specialized into expressing observable feelings and desires of others.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ɡɑː.ɾu/
US /ɡɑː.ɾu/
Stress is generally light and evenly distributed, with a slight emphasis on the first syllable 'ga'.
Rhymes With
aru baru maru taru yaru guru buru suru
Common Errors
  • Pronouncing 'ru' too strongly like the English 'roo'.
  • Adding an unnecessary glide sound.
  • Misplacing stress, if any.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Understanding 〜がる in reading requires distinguishing between direct statements and inferred emotions, particularly in narrative texts where characters' feelings are described.

Writing 3/5

Correctly applying 〜がる in writing involves remembering the strict rule of third-person usage and the proper adjective/verb stem formations.

Speaking 3/5

Using 〜がる naturally in speech requires practice to avoid the common mistake of using it for oneself and to apply it appropriately in observational contexts.

Listening 3/5

Recognizing 〜がる in spoken Japanese helps in understanding the speaker's perception of others' emotions and desires.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

i-adjectives na-adjectives verbs conjugation of verbs 〜ている form 〜たい form

Learn Next

〜そうだ (appearance) 〜ようだ (seems) 〜みたい (seems) 〜らしい (seems/typical)

Advanced

Nuances of inferring emotions in Japanese Indirect speech and politeness levels Describing character psychology in literature

Grammar to Know

Conjugation of godan verbs

The verb 〜がる conjugates like other godan verbs: 〜がる (plain), 〜がります (polite), 〜がった (past plain), 〜がりました (past polite), 〜がっている (continuous).

Adjective stem formation

i-adjectives drop the final 'i' before adding suffixes like 〜がる (e.g., 寒い -> 寒がる). Na-adjectives add the suffix directly to the stem (e.g., 綺麗 -> 綺麗がる - though this specific example is less common).

The 〜たい form

When expressing a desire to do something, the verb stem + たい form is used, and 〜がる can be attached to this: 食べる (taberu) -> 食べたい (tabetai) -> 食べたいがる (tabe-tagaru - seems to want to eat).

Third-person vs. First-person perspective

Crucially, 〜がる is for third persons. For first person, use the direct adjective/verb: 私は暑いです (I am hot), not 私は暑がっています.

Continuous Tense (〜ている)

The continuous form 〜がっている describes an ongoing state of appearing to feel or desire something: 子供が眠たがっている (The child seems sleepy).

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Examples by Level

1

子供は泣いています。

The child is crying.

Direct statement of emotion.

1

犬が吠えています。

The dog is barking.

Direct statement of action.

1

赤ちゃんが寒がっています。

The baby seems cold.

〜がる attached to 寒い (samui).

1

彼は新しいゲームを欲しがっています。

He seems to want the new game.

〜がる attached to 欲しい (hoshii).

1

彼女は、別れを惜しがっているように見えた。

She seemed to be reluctant to part.

〜がる attached to 惜しい (oshii - regretful).

1

その芸術家は、自身の作品が評価されないことを寂しがっていた。

The artist felt lonely that his works were not appreciated.

〜がる attached to 寂しい (sabishii - lonely).

Synonyms

〜そう

Common Collocations

嬉しがる
寒がる
欲しがる
寂しがる
恥ずかしがる
怖がる
疲れているように見える
〜たがる
〜ているように見える
〜ようだ

Common Phrases

〜がっている

— Seems to be feeling/wanting (present continuous)

子供が泣きそうな顔をしている。きっと寂しがっているんだ。

〜がっていた

— Seemed to be feeling/wanting (past continuous)

彼は寒がっていたので、上着を貸してあげた。

〜たがっている

— Seems to want to do (present continuous)

彼女は旅行に行きたがっている。

〜たがっていた

— Seemed to want to do (past continuous)

子供たちは外で遊びたがっていたが、雨が降っていた。

〜欲しがる

— Seems to want (an object)

猫が私の食べ物を欲しがっている。

〜怖がる

— Seems to be afraid

小さい子供は大きな犬を怖がる。

〜嬉しがる

— Seems happy

彼女は褒められて、嬉しがった。

〜寂しがる

— Seems lonely

一人残された猫が寂しがっていた。

〜恥ずかしがる

— Seems embarrassed

彼は注目されて、恥ずかしがった。

〜暑がる

— Seems hot

夏の日、子供たちは暑がっていた。

Often Confused With

〜がる vs 〜そう

〜そう expresses general appearance, while 〜がる specifically expresses observable emotions or desires of people/animals.

〜がる vs 〜ようだ / 〜みたい

These are broader phrases for conjecture and can be used for objects or situations, whereas 〜がる is limited to the emotional/desiderative states of animate beings.

〜がる vs Direct adjective/verb usage

Direct usage states a fact or personal feeling, while 〜がる implies observation and inference about another.

Easily Confused

〜がる vs 〜そう

Both express appearance or seeming.

〜そう is more general and applies to objects and situations too. 〜がる is specifically for the emotional or desiderative states of people and animals, based on observation.

The child looks cold (寒そう - samusō) vs. The child seems cold (寒がっている - samugatte iru).

〜がる vs 〜ようだ

Both imply conjecture or appearance.

〜ようだ is a broader phrase for making inferences or expressing what seems to be true. 〜がる is a specific suffix that verbalizes observable emotions and desires of third parties.

He seems to be tired (疲れているようだ - tsukarete iru yō da) vs. He seems to want to rest (休みたがっている - yasumi-tagatte iru).

〜がる vs 〜みたい

Similar to 〜ようだ, it expresses seeming or appearance.

〜みたい is often more informal than 〜ようだ. 〜がる is a verb suffix focused on observable emotions/desires of third parties.

It seems like it will rain (雨が降りみたい - ame ga furi mitai) vs. The boy seems to want to play (男の子が遊びたがっている - otoko no ko ga asobi-tagatte iru).

〜がる vs 〜たがる

〜たがる is a specific form of 〜がる.

〜がる is the general suffix. 〜たがる is when 〜がる is attached to the verb stem + たい construction, specifically indicating a perceived desire to *do* an action.

She seems to want sweets (お菓子を欲しがっている - okashi o hoshi-gatte iru) vs. She seems to want to eat sweets (お菓子を食べたがっている - okashi o tabe-tagatte iru).

〜がる vs 〜ている (direct)

Both can describe a state.

〜ている directly states a condition or action. 〜がる describes the *appearance* of an emotion or desire in a third person, implying inference.

He is crying (泣いている - naite iru) vs. He seems like he wants to cry (泣きたがっている - nakitaga-tte iru).

Sentence Patterns

Beginner

Subject + は/が + Adjective Stem + がる.

子供は寒がる。

Beginner

Subject + は/が + Adjective Stem + がって + いる.

猫は暑がっている。

Beginner

Subject + は/が + Verb Stem + たがる.

彼は遊びたがる。

Intermediate

Subject + は/が + Adjective Stem + がった.

妹は嬉しがった。

Intermediate

Subject + は/が + Verb Stem + たがって + いる.

彼女たちは話したがっている。

Intermediate

Subject + は/が + Adjective Stem + がって + いた.

彼は怖がっていた。

Advanced

Subject + は/が + Verb Stem + たがって + いた.

子供たちは外に出たがっていた。

Advanced

Subject + は/が + Adjective Stem + がっている + ようだ.

彼は何かを心配しているように見え、寂しがっているようだ。

Word Family

Verbs

〜がる

Related

〜そう
〜ようだ
〜みたい
〜たがる
〜欲しがる
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How to Use It

frequency

High in spoken Japanese, especially in casual contexts.

Common Mistakes
  • Using 〜がる for oneself. → Use direct adjectives/verbs for your own feelings.

    The suffix 〜がる is strictly for observing and describing the emotions or desires of *others*. For example, if you are cold, you say 'I am cold' (私は寒いです - Watashi wa samui desu), not 'I seem cold' (私は寒がっています - Watashi wa samugatte imasu).

  • Incorrectly attaching to i-adjectives. → Drop the final 'i' before adding がる.

    When forming 〜がる from i-adjectives, the final い must be removed. For example, 暑い (atsui) becomes 暑がる (atsugaru), not 暑いいがる.

  • Confusing 〜がる with direct statements of emotion. → Understand that 〜がる implies inference based on observation.

    〜がる suggests you are inferring someone's feelings or desires based on their visible behavior. It's not a direct statement of fact about their internal state. Saying 'He seems sad' (悲しがっている - kanashi-gatte iru) is different from stating 'He is sad' (彼は悲しい - Kare wa kanashii).

  • Incorrect verb stem + たがる formation. → Use verb stem + たい + がる.

    To express someone's apparent desire to do an action, you typically use the verb stem + たい construction and then add がる. For example, from 食べる (taberu), you get 食べたい (tabetai), which then becomes 食べたいがる (tabe-tagaru - seems to want to eat).

  • Using 〜がる for general appearances. → Use 〜そう or 〜ようだ for general appearances.

    While 〜がる relates to appearance, it's specific to emotions and desires of people/animals. For general appearances of objects or situations, use 〜そう (e.g., 寒そう - looks cold) or 〜ようだ (e.g., 雨が降りそうだ - looks like it will rain).

Tips

Third-Person Rule

Always remember that 〜がる is for observing others. Never use it for yourself. This is the most critical rule to avoid sounding unnatural.

Observational Nuance

〜がる implies that you are inferring someone's feelings or desires based on their actions or expressions. It adds a layer of empathy and observation to your description.

Adjective Stem Practice

Practice dropping the final 'i' from i-adjectives and attaching がる. For example, 暑い (atsui) -> 暑がる (atsugaru), 痛い (itai) -> 痛がる (itagar).

Casual Conversation

This suffix is very common in everyday spoken Japanese. Listening to native speakers in casual settings is a great way to hear it used naturally.

〜がる vs. 〜そう

When describing how someone appears, consider if it's their emotional state/desire (〜がる) or a general appearance (〜そう).

Verb + たがる

Practice forming 〜たがる by taking the verb stem + たい. For example, 飲み (nomi) + たい (tai) -> 飲みたい (nomitai) -> 飲みたがる (nomi-tagaru).

Cultural Context

The use of 〜がる reflects the Japanese cultural value of indirectness and empathy, allowing speakers to comment on others' feelings politely and observantly.

Mnemonic Device

Think of someone 'gar'-ing (making a sound) because they are feeling something strongly. This helps remember it's about outward expression of inner states in others.

Journaling Prompts

Use the journal prompts to actively practice using 〜がる in written sentences, reinforcing the rules and nuances.

Media Immersion

Watch anime, dramas, or read manga and actively listen for or look for instances of 〜がる to see it used in context by native speakers.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine someone 'gar'-ing (like growling or grumbling) because they are feeling an emotion or want something. The 'gar' sound can remind you of the suffix, and the 'growling' implies an outward expression of an inner state.

Visual Association

Picture a person with a thought bubble above their head showing an emotion (like a sad face or a heart for desire). The word 〜がる is written on the outside of the bubble, indicating that this is what *you* see on the outside.

Word Web

Emotions Desires Third Person Observation Adjective Stems Verb Stems Appearance Inference Human Behavior Animal Behavior

Challenge

Try to describe the emotions of characters in a short anime clip or a picture book using 〜がる. Focus on what you can see and infer about their feelings or wants.

Word Origin

The suffix 〜がる is believed to have evolved from the verb 懸がる (kakaru), which originally meant 'to hang down' or 'to be suspended'. Over time, its meaning shifted to imply something 'hanging over' someone, like an emotion or a desire. This is similar to how in English, we might say an emotion 'comes over' someone. The sound 'ka' likely softened to 'ga' through regular sound changes in the Japanese language.

Original meaning: To hang over, to be suspended, to fall upon.

Japonic

Cultural Context

Using 〜がる is generally considered polite as it implies you are inferring someone's feelings based on their observable behavior, rather than making a definitive judgment about their internal state. It shows empathy and observation skills.

In English, we often use phrases like 'he seems,' 'she looks,' 'he appears to be,' or 'they seem to want.' These phrases convey a similar observational nuance to 〜がる.

Anime characters often express subtle emotions using 〜がる. Children's stories frequently use 〜がる to describe animal or child characters' feelings. Everyday Japanese dramas showcase natural conversations employing 〜がる.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Observing children's play

  • 〜したがっている
  • 〜欲しがっている
  • 〜疲れているように見える

Discussing a friend's mood

  • 〜寂しがっている
  • 〜嬉しそう
  • 〜元気がないように見える

Describing animal behavior

  • 〜したがる
  • 〜寒がる
  • 〜楽しそう

Commenting on physical discomfort

  • 〜暑がる
  • 〜寒がる
  • 〜痛がる

Expressing perceived desires

  • 〜欲しがる
  • 〜〜たがる
  • 〜〜したがる

Conversation Starters

"What do you think that child wants?"

"How does your pet seem to be feeling today?"

"Did you notice how happy she looked when she received the gift?"

"He seems a bit tired, doesn't he?"

"Do you think he wants to join us?"

Journal Prompts

Describe a time you observed someone else's strong emotion and how you inferred it.

Write about a situation where a pet seemed to want something specific.

Imagine a character in a story who is visibly sad. How would you describe their sadness using 〜がる?

Reflect on a time you might have been mistaken in assuming someone's feelings. How could 〜がる have been used more appropriately?

Write a short dialogue where one person observes another's desire or discomfort.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, you absolutely cannot use 〜がる to describe your own feelings or desires. It is strictly for observing and describing the emotions or wants of other people or animals. If you are feeling hot, you say 'I am hot' (私は暑いです - Watashi wa atsui desu), not 'I seem hot' (私は暑がっています - Watashi wa atsugatte imasu). This is one of the most important rules to remember about 〜がる.

Both suffixes relate to appearance, but 〜がる is specifically for the observable emotions, feelings, or desires of people and animals. For example, 'The child seems cold' (子供は寒がっている - Kodomo wa samugatte iru). 〜そう, on the other hand, is a more general suffix for appearance and can apply to objects, situations, or states as well. For example, 'The sky looks cold' (空は寒そう - Sora wa samusō) or 'He looks tired' (彼は疲れてそう - Kare wa tsukarete sō).

For i-adjectives, you drop the final い and add がる. For example, 寒い (samui - cold) becomes 寒がる (samu-garu - to seem cold). For na-adjectives, you attach がる directly to the stem. For example, 綺麗 (kirei - beautiful) could theoretically become 綺麗がる, though this specific usage is less common than with emotions. More commonly, it's used with adjectives like 嬉しい (ureshii - happy) -> 嬉しがる (ureshi-garu - to seem happy).

Yes, but it's often used with the 〜たい form of verbs to express a perceived desire to do something. For example, 食べたい (tabetai - want to eat) becomes 食べたいがる (tabe-tagaru - seems to want to eat). It can sometimes be attached to other verb stems with nuances of appearing to do something or wanting to do something.

No, 〜がる can be used for both positive and negative emotions, as well as desires. For example, 嬉しがる (ureshi-garu) means 'to seem happy', and 楽しむ (tanoshimu - to enjoy) can be related to 楽しがる (tanoshi-garu - to seem to enjoy), though this is less common. It's about the observable expression of any emotion or desire.

Like other godan verbs, 〜がる conjugates into past tenses. The polite past tense is 〜がりました (garimashita), and the plain past tense is 〜がった (gatta). For example, 'The child seemed happy' would be 子供は嬉しがった (Kodomo wa ureshi-gatta).

You would use the 〜たがる form. The verb 'to go' is 行く (iku). Its stem is 行き (iki). The 〜たい form is 行きたい (ikitai). Attaching 〜がる gives you 行きたがる (iki-tagaru). So, 'He seems to want to go' is 彼は行きたがっています (Kare wa iki-tagatte imasu) in polite form, or 彼は行きたがる (Kare wa iki-tagaru) in plain form.

Yes, 〜がる is very commonly used for animals because we observe their behavior to infer their feelings and desires. For instance, 'The dog seems to want a walk' is 犬は散歩に行きたがっています (Inu wa sanpo ni iki-tagatte imasu).

〜ている typically describes a current state or ongoing action directly. For example, 彼は泣いている (Kare wa naite iru - He is crying). 〜がる, however, describes the *appearance* or perceived emotion/desire of a third person based on observation. For example, 彼は泣きたがっている (Kare wa nakitaga-tte iru - He seems like he wants to cry). The latter implies inference rather than a direct statement of the action itself.

Use 〜がる when you are specifically observing and inferring the *emotional state* or *desire* of a person or animal. Use 〜そう for more general appearances, which could be about physical states, conditions, or even inanimate objects. For example, 'The child seems cold' (寒がる) is about their feeling, while 'The room looks cold' (部屋が寒そう) is about the room's appearance.

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