欲しい

• Reading: ほしい
• Romaji: hoshii
• Kanji breakdown: 欲 (ho/yoku) — desire, want, wish
• Pronunciation: /ho.ɕi.i/

Meaning

Wanting; desiring; wishing for. Expresses a desire to have something.

An i-adjective expressing desire to possess something. Unlike English 'want,' 欲しい can only be used for the speaker's own desires in statements. To describe someone else's desire, use 欲しがっている. Combined with てform + ほしい, it expresses wanting someone to do something. Conjugates regularly: 欲しくない, 欲しかった.

Examples

1. 新しいかばんが欲しいです。 I want a new bag.
2. 何か飲み物が欲しくないですか。 Don't you want something to drink?
3. 誕生日に何が欲しいですか。 What do you want for your birthday?

Usage Guide

Context: shopping, wishes, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 欲 combines 谷 (valley) and 欠 (lacking/yawning), suggesting an emptiness or lack that creates desire. It has expressed wanting since classical Japanese.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal