寿司を食べたい
sushi o tabetai
The phrase "I want to eat sushi" in Japanese is 寿司を食べたい (sushi o tabetai).
This phrase is used to express a personal desire to consume sushi. In Japanese, the subject watashi (I) is often omitted when the context makes it clear that the speaker is expressing their own desire.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of sushi (sushi), the particle o which serves as an object marker and tabetai (want to eat).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 寿司を食べたい is informal and should be used with friends or family. To make the sentence polite and suitable for speaking to strangers or superiors, you can add desu to the end, resulting in 寿司を食べたいです.
How does it change in a sentence?
The "want to" aspect of the sentence is expressed by changing the verb taberu (to eat) into its tai form, tabetai. If you want to express the negative, "don't want to eat," you would use tabetakunai.
How do you pronounce it?
sushi o tabetai
When do people say it?
In some traditional sushi restaurants, it is customary to say Omakase to leave the choice to the chef.
Did you know?
- In Japan, the word sushi refers to the vinegared rice rather than the fish topping. Historically, the fish was just a means to preserve the rice or a garnish for it.
- Using the tai form to describe another person's desire to eat sushi is grammatically restricted. To avoid sounding like a mind reader, speakers must use the phrase tabetagatte iru to describe someone else's longing.
- While English speakers use 'I want' to express desire, Japanese speakers often avoid the tai form in polite social situations because it can sound too direct or selfish. Instead, they might use more indirect ways to suggest the idea of eating sushi.
Examples in context
- 寿司を食べたいです。sushi o tabetai desu.I want to eat sushi.
- 今日は寿司を食べたい気分です。kyou wa sushi o tabetai kibun desu.I am in the mood to eat sushi today.
- どうしても寿司を食べたい！doushitemo sushi o tabetai!I really want to eat sushi!
Example conversation
A couple is discussing what to eat for lunch.
- 健太 Kenta美咲、お昼は何がいい？misaki, ohiru wa nani ga ii?Misaki, what do you want for lunch?
- 美咲 Misaki私は寿司を食べたいです。watashi wa sushi o tabetai desu.I want to eat sushi.
- 健太 Kentaいいですね、あのお店に行きましょう。ii desu ne, ano omise ni ikimashou.That sounds good, let's go to that restaurant.
- 美咲 Misakiやった！楽しみです。yatta! tanoshimi desu.Yay! I'm looking forward to it.
