欲しい
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Base i-adjective form ending in 『い』. Used to express desire for objects or things. Example: 『水が欲しい』 (mizu ga hoshii, 'I want water').
Theme
Two roommates, Aya and User, are talking about household items they need to buy for their apartment.
欲しい
ほしい
to want / in need of
Core Language Building BlocksCore Adjectives
Memory Hook
Imagine you really want something and say 'I wish I had it!' The word sounds like 'hoshii' — think of 'I wish' for '欲しい' (hoshii, 'to want'). 'Hoshii' → I wish!
Cultural Note
In Japanese culture, expressing desires directly with 『欲しい』 (hoshii, 'to want') can sometimes be seen as impolite. It's often softened with polite forms like 『欲しいです』 (hoshii desu) or used in indirect requests.
Forms
Base: 欲しいBase i-adjective form ending in 『い』. Used to express desire for objects or things. Example: 『水が欲しい』 (mizu ga hoshii, 'I want water').
Negative: 欲しくないDrop 『い』 → add 『くない』 (kunai, negative) → 『欲しくない』 (hoshikunai, 'do not want').
Past: 欲しかったDrop 『い』 → add 『かった』 (katta, past) → 『欲しかった』 (hoshikatta, 'wanted').
Adverbial: 欲しくDrop 『い』 → add 『く』 (ku, adverbial) → 『欲しく』 (hoshiku). Rarely used alone; often in phrases like 『欲しくて』 (hoshikute, 'wanting and...').
Comparative: より欲しいComparative formed with modifier 『より』 (yori, 'more than') + base adjective. Example: 『これより欲しい』 (kore yori hoshii, 'want this more').
Superlative: 一番欲しいSuperlative formed with 『一番』 (ichiban, 'number one / Most') + adjective. Example: 『一番欲しいもの』 (ichiban hoshii mono, 'the most wanted thing').