How to Express Want and Desire in Japanese with "たい"

Understanding "たい" in Japanese

In Japanese, the suffix たい is used to express the want or desire to perform an action. It's attached primarily to the stem of a verb, altering its meaning to reflect an internal wish.

Forming the "たい" conjugation

To form the "たい" conjugation, follow these steps:
1. Take the verb in its dictionary form.
2. Remove the -る for ichidan verbs or change the final character for godan verbs.
3. Add たい to the remaining stem.

Using "たい" in a sentence

When used in a sentence, the "たい" form functions similarly to an adjective, meaning it agrees with subjects in Japanese sentences. For example: "I want to read." becomes "私は本を読みたいです。"

Pitfalls to Avoid

Be careful not to use the "たい" form for expressing other people's desires directly, as it's generally reserved for first-person or inferred desires. Instead, use expressions like "たがっている" when talking about others' wants, e.g., "彼は行きたがっている" for "He wants to go."

Living with "たい" in Daily Life

Understanding "たい" can significantly enhance your conversational Japanese skills, allowing you to express your wants and perceive others'. Its simplicity and directness make it a valuable addition to your language toolkit.

Practice Expressions

Try forming sentences using the following verbs with "たい".
Verb examples:
- 売る (to sell)
- 走る (to run)
- 作る (to make)