tabetai/nomitai/hatarakitai… Expressions of hope or desire in Japanese

How do you express your hopes and desires in Japanese? One of the easiest ways to express how you feel when you want to do something in Japanese is to use the Japanese expression “～たい” (tai). Let's learn how to use “～たい” (tai) to express yourself in various situations such as eating and studying!

１.　食べたい(tabetai)

The word “食べたい” (tabetai) is a way to express a desire to eat something.

Example

私は今夜寿司が食べたい。

Watashi wa kon'ya sushi ga tabetai.

I want to eat sushi tonight.

“食べたくない” (tabetakunai) is a way of saying that you don't feel like eating or that you don't want to eat when something you don't like appears in front of you. It is a simple expression, so it is often used when children tell adults.

Example

僕はにんじんを食べたくない。

Boku wa ninjin o tabetakunai.

I don't want to eat carrots.

Example

私は何も食べたくない。

watashi wa nani mo tabetakunai.

I don’t want to eat anything.

If you want to ask someone if they want to eat something, say, “食べたい？” (tabetai?). Raise the end of the word so that the person knows you are asking. “食べたい？” (tabetai?) is a casual expression, used for family members, lovers, and other close people. When you use it for older people or your boss, use “食べたいですか？” (tabetaidesu ka？) or “お召し上がりになりますか?” (omeshiagari ni narimasu ka ?) a little politely.

Example

お昼ご飯は何を食べたい？

Ohiru gohan wa nani o tabetai?

What do you want to eat for lunch?

Example

刺身と天ぷらどっちが食べたいですか？

Sashimi to tenpura dochira wo tabetaidesu ka?

Which would you like to eat, sashimi or tempura?

Example

社長、何をお召し上がりになりますか？

Shachō, nani wo omeshiagari ni narimasu ka?

Mr. President, what would you like to eat?

２.　飲みたい(nomitai)

“飲みたい” (nomitai) is a Japanese expression used when you want to drink something. When you ask someone if they want to drink something, you can say, “飲みますか？” (nomi masu ka?). If you don't want to drink, you can use “飲みたくない” (nomitakunai) to express yourself in the most straightforward way. When expressing respect to superiors at work, “お飲みになりますか？” (onomi ni narimasu ka ?) is a polite expression.

Example

私は水が飲みたい。

Watashi wa mizu ga nomitai.

I want to drink water.

Example

僕はコーヒーが苦手なので飲みたくない。

Boku wa kōhī ga nigate nanode nomitakunai.

I'm not good at coffee so I don't want to drink it.

Example

部長、何かお飲みになりますか？

Buchō, nanika onomi ni narimasu ka?

Boss, would you like to drink something?

３.　帰りたい(kaeritai)

“帰りたい” (kaeritai) means a hope or desire to go home from a certain place. The feeling of not wanting to go back to a certain place is expressed by using “帰りたくない” (kaeritakunai).

Example

仕事が終わったら早く帰りたい。

Shigoto ga owattara hayaku kaeritai.

I want to go home immediately after work.

Example

家族に会いたいから国に帰りたい。

Kazoku ni aitaikara kuni ni kaeritai.

I want to go back to my country because I want to see my family.

Example

遊園地で遊ぶのが楽しすぎて、家に帰りたくない。

Yūenchi de asobu no ga tanoshi sugite, ie ni kaeritakunai.

I don't want to go home because I enjoy playing in the amusement park too much.

[日本のことが気になる？一緒に日本語を学びませんか？]

４.　働きたい(hatarakitai)

“働きたい” (hatarakitai) expresses a hope or desire to work. This expression is often used in conjunction with words that describe a place. This expression is often used in job interviews and when filling out application forms.

Example

私はこの会社で働きたいです。

Watashi wa kono kaisha de hatarakitai desu.

I’d like to work for this company.

Example

私は日本で働きたいです。

Watashi wa Nihon de hatarakitai desu.

I want to work in Japan.

Example

あなたは将来何歳まで働きたいですか？

Anata wa shōrai nan-sai made hatarakitai desu ka?

Until what age do you want to work in the future?

５.　住みたい(sumitai)

“住みたい” (sumitai) is an expression used when you want to tell someone where you want to live. When using this expression, it is often used with words that describe a place, similar to the way “働きたい” (hatarakitai) is used. If you don't want to live in a place for some reason, you can say “住みたくない” (sumitakunai) to express your unwillingness to live there.

Example

私は東京に住みたいです。

Watashi wa Tōkyō ni sumitai desu.

I want to live in Tokyo.

Example

私はイギリスに住みたいです。

Watashi wa Igirisu ni sumitai desu.

I want to live in England.

Example

このアパートは雨漏りするから住みたくない。

Kono apāto wa amamori surukara sumitakunai.

I don't want to live in this apartment because it leaks.

６.　買いたい(kaitai)

The word “買いたい” (kaitai) expresses a wish or desire to buy something.

Example

僕は新しい靴を買いたい。

Boku wa atarashī kutsu wo kaitai.

I want to buy new shoes.

７.　行きたい(ikitai)

The word “行きたい” (ikitai) expresses a wish or desire to go to a certain place. It is often used in conjunction with words that describe a place or time. If you don't want to go to a certain place, use “行きたくない” (ikitakunai).

Example

私は来年北海道に行きたい。

Watashi wa rainen Hokkaidō ni ikitai.

I want to go to Hokkaido next year.

Example

注射が怖いので病院に行きたくない。

Chūsha ga kowai node byōin ni ikitakunai.

I don't want to go to the hospital because I'm afraid of injections.

８.　見たい(mitai)

The word “見たい” (mitai) is a Japanese expression used to express how you feel when you want to see something.

Example

上野公園の桜を見たい。

Uenokōen no sakura wo mitai.

I want to see the cherry blossoms in Ueno Park.

Example

日本で雪を見たい。

Nihon de yuki wo mitai.

I want to see snow in Japan.

In Japanese, there are many ways to express hopes and desires. The way to say hopes and desires depends on who the subject is. Why don't you study Japanese more and learn to speak various expressions?

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