Which one should you use?
While これが欲しいです expresses the desire to possess something, これをお願いします is a polite expression used specifically when making requests or ordering something. For a more casual way to say "Please give me this", you can use これください.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
これが欲しいです is a polite way to express that you want something specific. By dropping the です at the end to form これが欲しい, the phrase becomes informal and is suitable for use with friends or family.
How does it change in a sentence?
In this phrase, 欲しい is an i-adjective, which means it describes the state of wanting something rather than describing an action. Because 欲しい is an adjective, the particle が is used to mark the object of desire instead of the particle を.
How do you pronounce it?
kore ga hoshii desu
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the particle を with 欲しい (e.g., これを欲しい). Instead, you should use the particle が.
Did you know?
- If you are talking about someone else's desire, such as 'He wants this', you generally cannot use 欲しい directly. You would need to add a suffix like 〜がっている to indicate that you are observing their external desire.
- Japanese speakers rarely use 欲しい to describe what another person wants. To talk about someone else's desires, they use the verb 欲しがる, as it is considered presumptuous to claim you know another person's internal feelings.
- In anime or manga, characters often omit です and が entirely, saying just これ欲しい to show a raw, immediate impulse. This creates a stark contrast to the polite, structured speech used in textbooks.
Examples in context
- 店員: こんにちは、何かお探しですか？
You: はい、これが欲しいです。Clerk: Hello, are you looking for something?
You: Yes, I want this. - ウェイター: ご注文は？
You: これをお願いします。Waiter: What would you like to order?
You: I would like this, please. - 友達: このゲームかなり面白そうだよ。
You: 本当？それ、俺も欲しい！Friend: This game looks really interesting.
You: Really? I want it too! - 店員: いらっしゃいませ。何かご注文は？
You: これください。Clerk: Welcome. What would you like to order?
You: I'll take this, please. - これが欲しいです。kore ga hoshii desu.I want this.
Example conversation
At a gift shop, Kenta and Himari are looking at various items.
- 健太 Kenta陽葵さんは、これが欲しいですか？himari-san wa, kore ga hoshii desu ka?Himari, do you want this?
- 陽葵 Himariはい、これが欲しいです！hai, kore ga hoshii desu!Yes, I want this!
- 健太 Kentaとても似合っていますね。totemo niatte imasu ne.It suits you very well.
- 陽葵 Himariありがとうございます。嬉しいです。arigatou gozaimasu. ureshii desu.Thank you. I am happy.
