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ほしい hoshii

 

Indicates that something is desired by the speaker

 

Example 1:

 

私は本田のオートバイがほしい。

Watashi wa Honda no ootobai ga hoshii.

I want a Honda motorcycle.

 

Example 2:

 

あなたも本田のオートバイがほしいですか。

Anata mo Honda no ootobai ga hoshii desu ka.

Do you also want a Honda motorcycle?  

The hoshii form implies a close connection between the speaker and the desire. (Note that the above two examples involve the first- and second-person voices.)   

However, when speaking about a third person, the hoshii form is not used by itself. When speaking in the third person, use either the hoshigatte iru form, or one of several indirect modifiers which distance the speaker from the person with the desire: 

Example 3: 

ジョンさんは本田のオートバイをほしがっている。

Jon-san wa Honda no ootobai o hoshigatte iru.

Jon wants a Honda motorcycle.

 

Example 4: 

石田さんは本田のオートバイがほしいと言っている。

Ishida-san wa Honda no ootobai ga hoshii to itte iru.

Ishida-san wants a Honda motorcycle.

 

Example 5*:

トムさんは本田のオートバイがほしいそうです。

Tomu-san wa Honda no ootobai ga hoshii soo desu.

I hear that Tom wants a Honda motorcycle.

 

*Alternatives to Example 5 include constructions with rashii and yoo da, which also make a statement more indirect.

 

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