JLPT N5 Grammar (tai)

Meaning

want to do something

How to use

Verb ます (stem form)たい
たくない
たかった
tai たい jlpt n5 grammar meaning 文法 例文 japanese flashcards

Learn Japanese grammar: (tai). Meaning: want to do something.

To use this grammar point, add it at the end of the verb stem form.
たべます -> たべたい
I eat -> I want to eat

*NOTE* This is mainly used to describe the actions the speaker wants to do.

To say someone wants to do something in 3rd person without quoting them, use instead.

Basic example for (tai) – want to do~

sushi o tabetai.

I want to eat sushi.

(tai) can be conjugated to be used in negative and past tense as well.

Negative form (takunai) do not want to do~

sushi o tabetakunai

I do not want to eat sushi.

Past form (takatta) – wanted to do~

sushi o tabetakatta.

I wanted to eat sushi.

Extra Study Notes

This is mostly ONLY for first person use, but there are some situations where it’s OK to use for second person:

Example A) when quoting others

tanaka-san ga sushi o tabetai ndatte.

Tanaka-san said he wants to eat Sushi.

Example B) when asking a question

nani o tabetai desuka?

What do you want to eat?

Other ways to express wanting something


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- Example Sentences

Each example sentence includes a Japanese hint, the romaji reading, and the English translation.

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Example #1

にほんごをもっとべんきょうしたいです。
nihongo o motto benkyou shitai desu.
I want to study more Japanese.
Example #2

せんせい、ききたいことがありますが。
sensei, kikitai koto ga arimasu ga.
Sensei, there is something I'd like to ask you..
Example #3

はやくけっこんしたい。
hayaku kekkon shitai.
I want to hurry up and get married.
Example #4

じてんしゃがこわれたから、あたらしいのをかいたい。
jitensha ga kowareta kara, atarashii no o kaitai.
My bicycle broke, so I want to buy a new one.
Example #5

こどものころから、ずっとにほんにいきたかった。
kodomo no koro kara, zutto nihon ni ikitakatta.
Ever since I was little, I always wanted to go to Japan.
Example #6

つかれたから、もうべんきょうしたくない。
tsukareta kara, mou benkyou shitakunai.
I'm tired and don't want to study anymore.
Example #7

しょうらいはにほんのかいしゃではたらきたいです。
shourai wa nihon no kaisha de hatarakitai desu.
In the future, I'd like to work for a Japanese company.
Example #8

おかねがたくさんあったら、なにをしたいですか?
okane ga takusan attara, nani o shitai desu ka?
What would you want to do if you had a lot of money?

Vocabulary List

KanjiKanaEnglish
食べるたべるto eat
先生せんせいteacher; instructor; master
聞くきくto hear; to listen (to music); to ask; to learn of
早いはやいfast; early
田中たなかTanaka (surname)
疲れたつかれたto be tired
勉強べんきょうto study
ありますto have; there is (non-living)
自転車じてんしゃbicycle
新しいあたらしいnew
買うかうto buy
子供こどもchild
ころaround the time~
ずっとalways
日本にほんJapan
行くいくto go

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JLPT N5 vocabulary list

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