The たい form
Use the たい form to say that you want to do something.
Examples
JapaneseTranslation
日本へ行きたいです。Nihon e ikitai desu.
I want to go to Japan.
今日は早く帰りたい。Kyō wa hayaku kaeritai.
I want to go home early today.
新しい本を読みたいです。Atarashii hon o yomitai desu.
I want to read a new book.
Pattern
verb stem + たい
How it works
Use the たい form to say that you want to do something. This pattern typically appears as verb stem + たい and becomes easier when you meet it again in short, readable examples.
What to notice
- The たい form behaves much like an i-adjective in many environments.
- It usually describes the speaker’s own desire most naturally.
Why it matters
Say what you want, where you are heading, and why.
Use in context
This is an early high-value pattern because wanting and planning come up constantly in beginner conversation.