How to Say "What You Want" in Japanese

欲しいもの

hoshii mono

In Japanese, "what you want" is expressed as 欲しいもの (hoshii mono).

欲しいもの refers to the specific thing or tangible object that a person desires to have.

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase is composed of the adjective 欲しい (hoshii), meaning 'desired' or 'wanted' and the noun もの (mono), meaning 'thing'.

While 欲しいもの refers to a tangible object or thing, you would use 欲しいこと to refer to an abstract desire, such as a situation or an action.

The adjective 欲しい (hoshii) functions as a relative clause that modifies the noun もの (mono) to create the phrase 'the thing that is wanted'.

hoshii mono

If you are talking about what someone else wants, you often cannot use 欲しい (hoshii) directly. Because Japanese culture prioritizes not assuming another person's internal feelings, you must use a different verb to describe their desires.
In Japanese, saying 'I want' using 欲しい (hoshii) can actually sound quite blunt or even selfish if used too frequently in polite conversation. It expresses a direct, raw craving rather than a polite request.
Because 欲しい (hoshii) is an adjective in Japanese, it behaves more like the English word 'delicious' than the English verb 'to want'. It describes the state of the object being 'desirable'.

欲しいものって、本当にそれ？
Is that really what you want?
This sentence is useful for asking if a specific thing is truly what the listener wants using 欲しいもの.
Tatoeba #12008499 by small_snow, translation #5651802 by Hybrid
君が欲しいものは持ってないよ。
I don't have what you want.
This sentence is useful for stating that you do not possess the object the listener wants using 欲しいもの.
Tatoeba #9736252 by Ninja, translation #9736157 by CK
あなたが欲しいものが分かんない。
I don't know what you want.
This sentence is useful for expressing an inability to understand a person's desire using 欲しいもの.
Tatoeba #9752545 by small_snow, translation #1887252 by CK
お願いしたいです。日本茶をお願いします。
I would like to request. Please give me some Japanese tea.
ピザが食べたいな。
I want to eat pizza.
彼女とデートに行きたいよ。
I want to go on a date with my girlfriend.
3 more sentences on Tatoeba

Yota and Himari are discussing a birthday gift.

陽太 Yota

誕生日に何か欲しいものがある？
Tanjoubi ni nanika hoshii mono ga aru?
Is there something you want for your birthday?
陽葵 Himari

うーん、まだ欲しいものが決まってないな。
Uun, mada hoshii mono ga kimattenai na.
Hmm, I haven't decided what I want yet.
陽太 Yota

ゆっくり考えていいよ。
Yukkuri kangaete ii yo.
You can take your time thinking about it.
陽葵 Himari

ありがとう、陽太くん。
Arigatou, Yota-kun.
Thank you, Yota.

Sources

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