There are primarily three different expressions that can be used to express wants. In this lesson, we’ll be covering how to say when you want to do something.
～たい
Want To
JLPT Level: N5
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How to Use It
To say “I want to do (verb)” in Japanese, we must use the verb stem and add たいです. For less formal speech, just add たい (without です).
たい can be conjugated to show present or past tense, positive or negative. It follows the same rules as い-adjectives – drop the final い and add くない, かった, or くなかった.
Usage Pattern
Verb Stem + たい (です)
Verb Stem + たくない (です)
Verb Stem + たかった (です)
Verb Stem + たくなかった (です)
Example 1
私は牛乳を飲みたいです。
わたし は ぎゅうにゅう を のみたい です。
Watashi wa gyuunyuu wo nomitai desu.
I want to drink milk.
Example 2
彼はテレビを見たかった。
かれ は テレビ を みたかった。
Kare wa terebi wo mitakatta.
He wanted to watch TV.
Example 3
彼女は公園に行きたくなかった。
かのじょ は こうえん にいきたくなかった。
Kanojo wa kouen ni ikitakunakatta.
She did not want to go to the park.
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