Practice JLPTHow to tell them apart
The core contrast is whose desire is being expressed. たい describes the speaker's own desire to perform an action (食べたい = I want to eat), while てほしい expresses wanting someone else to do something for the speaker (教えてほしい = I want you to teach me). Swapping them is unnatural because たい cannot target another person's action, and てほしい cannot describe your own action.
- 欲しい・ほしい Use てほしい when you want someone else to do something for you.
- たい Use たい when you yourself want to do something.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| 欲しい・ほしい shii hoshii | Want someone to do | N4 |
| たい tai | Want to | N5 |
欲しい・ほしい shii hoshii
Want someone to do
Want someone (who is not higher in status than the speaker) to do something.
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あなたは誰に来て欲しいですか。
Who do you want to come?
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私はあなたに英語を教えて欲しい・欲しいです。
I want you to teach me English.
たい tai
Want to
Want (to do something); would like (to do something) | An auxiliary adjective which expresses a desire to do something.
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三木さんは車を買いたがっている。
Mr. Miki wants to buy a car.
-
今日は何を・が食べたいですか。
What do you want to eat today?
欲しい・ほしい and たい are JLPT N5–N4 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side — meanings, usage and example sentences — so you can tell them apart.