How do you express your hopes and desires in Japanese? One easy way to express your desire to do something in Japanese is to use the Japanese expression "tai". Let's learn how to use "tai" in various situations, such as eating and studying!
1. I want to eat (tabetai)
"Tabetai" is a way of expressing that you want to eat something.
Example sentences
I want to eat sushi tonight.
Watashi wa kon'ya sushi ga tabetai.
I want to eat sushi tonight.
"I don't want to eat (tabetakunai)" is a way to express your feelings of not wanting to eat when you're not in the mood to eat or when food you don't like is in front of you. It's a simple expression, so it's often used by children to communicate with adults.
Example sentences
I don't want to eat carrots.
Boku wa ninjin o tabetakunai.
I don't want to eat carrots.
Example sentences
I don't want to eat anything.
watashi wa nani mo tabetakunai.
I don't want to eat anything.
When asking someone if they'd like to eat something, you can say "Tabetai?" (Do you want to eat?). Make sure to raise the pitch at the end of the sentence to let the other person know you're asking. "Tabetai?" (Do you want to eat?) is a casual expression and is used with close friends, such as family or a partner. When speaking with someone older than you or your boss at work, it's better to be a little more polite and say "Do you want to eat? (Tabetaidesu ka?)" or "Would you like to eat? (Omeshiagari ni narimasu ka ?)".
Example sentences
What do you want to eat for lunch?
Ohiru gohan wa nani o tabetai?
What do you want to eat for lunch?
Example sentences
Would you like to eat sashimi or tempura?
Sashimi to tenpura dochira wo tabetaidesu ka?
Which would you like to eat, sashimi or tempura?
Example sentences
President, what would you like to have?
Shachō, nani wo omeshiagari ni narimasu ka?
Mr. President, what would you like to eat?
2. I want to drink (nomitai)
"Nomitai" is a Japanese expression used when you want to have something to drink. When asking someone if they would like to have a drink, you would ask "Nomitai?". If you don't want to drink, you can express it most simply by saying "Nomitakunai." When speaking to someone respectfully, such as a superior at work, it is polite to say "Onominarimasu ka?".
Example sentences
I want to drink water.
Watashi wa mizu ga nomitai.
I want to drink water.
Example sentences
I don't like coffee so I don't want to drink it.
Boku wa kōhī ga nigate nanode nomitakunai.
I'm not good at coffee so I don't want to drink it.
Example sentences
Boss, would you like something to drink?
Buchō, nanika onomi ni narimasu ka?
Boss, would you like to drink something?
3. I want to go home (kaeritai)
"I want to go home (kaeritai)" means the hope or desire to return from a certain place. If you don't want to return to a certain place, you can use "I don't want to go home (kaeritakunai)."
Example sentences
I want to go home early after work.
Shigoto ga owattara hayaku kaeritai.
I want to go home immediately after work.
Example sentences
I want to go back to my country to see my family.
Kazoku ni aitaikara kuni ni kaeritai.
I want to go back to my country because I want to see my family.
Example sentences
I had so much fun at the amusement park that I didn't want to go home.
Yūenchi de asobu no ga tanoshi sugite, ie ni kaeritakunai.
I don't want to go home because I enjoy playing in the amusement park too much.
4. I want to work (hatarakitai)
"I want to work (hatarakitai)" expresses a hope or desire to find work. This expression is often used with a word that indicates a place. It is often used when interviewing for a job or filling out an application form.
Example sentences
I would like to work for this company.
Watashi wa kono kaisha de hatarakitai desu.
I'd like to work for this company.
Example sentences
I want to work in Japan.
Watashi wa Nihon de hatarakitai desu.
I want to work in Japan.
Example sentences
Until what age do you want to work in the future?
Anata wa shōrai nan-sai made hatarakitai desu ka?
Until what age do you want to work in the future?
5. I want to live there (sumitai)
"Sumitai (I want to live)" is an expression used when you want to express the place you want to live. When using this expression, it is often used together with a word that describes a place, just like how "hatarakitai (I want to work)" is used. If you don't want to live somewhere for some reason, you can say "sumitakunai (I don't want to live)" to express your feelings of not wanting to live there.
Example sentences
I want to live in Tokyo.
Watashi wa Tōkyō ni sumitai desu.
I want to live in Tokyo.
Example sentences
I want to live in the UK.
Watashi wa Igirisu ni sumitai desu.
I want to live in England.
Example sentences
I don't want to live in this apartment because it leaks.
Kono apāto wa amamori surukara sumitakunai.
I don't want to live in this apartment because it leaks.
6. I want to buy it (kaitai)
"Kaitai" expresses the hope or desire to buy something.
Example sentences
I want to buy new shoes.
Boku wa atarashī kutsu wo kaitai.
I want to buy new shoes.
7. I want to go (ikitai)
"I want to go (ikitai)" expresses a hope or desire to go to a certain place. It is often used with words that describe a place or time. If you don't want to go to a certain place, you would use "I don't want to go (ikitakunai)."
Example sentences
I want to go to Hokkaido next year.
Watashi wa rainen Hokkaidō ni ikitai.
I want to go to Hokkaido next year.
Example sentences
I don't want to go to the hospital because I'm afraid of injections.
Chūsha ga kowai node byōin ni ikitakunai.
I don't want to go to the hospital because I'm afraid of injections.
8. I want to see (mitai)
"Mitai" is a Japanese expression used to express the feeling of wanting to see something.
Example sentences
I want to see the cherry blossoms in Ueno Park.
Uenokōen no sakura wo mitai.
I want to see the cherry blossoms in Ueno Park.
Example sentences
I want to see snow in Japan.
Nihon de yuki wo mitai.
I want to see snow in Japan.
There are many ways to express hopes and desires in Japanese. The way you express your hopes and desires changes depending on who the subject is. Why not study Japanese more and become able to use a variety of Japanese expressions?
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