Want & need

Stage 2Versatile adjectivesChunk 7 of 28 · items 145–147 of 484

What you want, what you need and what matters, all said with X ga ___.

Mix-ups

hoshii (want) and hitsuyou (need) share the same sentence, so only the word changes (casual hitsuyou adds da na). Remember hoshii is an adjective, not a verb (X ga hoshii, never X o hoshii).

hoshii

polite hoshii desudrama rank #195

want (a thing)

ほしいPlay ほしいですPlay

Says you want a thing (X ga hoshii); it is an adjective, and for wanting to do something use -tai, for wanting someone else to do it -te hoshii.

casualPlay

atarashii pasokon ga hoshii

I want a new computer.

新しいパソコンがほしい

politePlay

atarashii pasokon ga hoshii desu

I'd like a new computer.

新しいパソコンがほしいです

Only for your own wants. Asking a superior 'X ga hoshii desu ka?' sounds too direct. To ask for something in a shop, say X o kudasai or X onegaishimasu, not X ga hoshii desu.

Learn alongside: hitsuyou

hitsuyou

polite hitsuyou desudrama rank #271

necessary, needed

必要 ひつようPlay 必要ですPlay

Says something is needed (X ga hitsuyou) or not needed (hitsuyou nai), for documents, money, time, skills and steps.

casualPlay

atarashii pasokon ga hitsuyou da na

I'm going to need a new computer.

新しいパソコンが必要だな

politePlay

atarashii pasokon ga hitsuyou desu

I need a new computer.

新しいパソコンが必要です

Casual 'need' is usually the verb iru (要る): kore iru? / iranai (no need). It sounds like iru (be there), but the negatives differ: iranai = don't need, inai = isn't here.

Learn alongside: hoshii

daiji

polite daiji desudrama rank #262

important, precious

大事 だいじPlay 大事ですPlay

Says something or someone is important or precious (daiji na hanashi = an important matter), and odaiji ni means 'take care' to someone who is ill.

casualPlay

kazoku ga ichiban daiji da yo

Family matters most.

家族が一番大事だよ

politePlay

kazoku ga ichiban daiji desu ne

Family matters most, doesn't it?

家族が一番大事ですね

taisetsu is a synonym that sounds warmer and a little more formal; daiji is the everyday spoken choice.