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It's an auxiliary verb, so I'm not sure whether or not it can conjugate. For example, is it correct to end a sentence with「。。。が欲しがります」？ Also, if you, for example, wanted to say that someone wants to want something, would「[誰か]は[何か]が欲しがりたいです」work?

DeityofAutomation
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1 Answers1

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Yes, it can conjugate just like a normal godan verb.

  • 欲しがらない
  • 欲しがります (-ません, -ました, ...)
  • 欲しがれば
  • 欲しがれ
  • 欲しがろう
    (This is rare as the "let's want" sense, but can be used as part of the (よ)うと/(よ)うが construction, e.g., 欲しがろうが欲しがるまいが与えられる "is given regardless of whether one wants it or not")

But it has many semantic restrictions, so please read this before using them.

When do you ever say "I want to want it" in English in the first place? 欲しがりたい may be usable in a very limited context where the way you show your desire to someone is important, but it's probably best to forget something tricky like this until you reach the near-native level.

naruto
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    Well, actually, in English, it is fairly common to say that one "want[s] to want" something. It's similar to saying that one "want[s] to like" something. It just means that one hopes that one's preferences will change.

    For example, if one wants to have a healthier diet, then in order to make the process easier, one would "want to want" certain foods that are nutritious but don't have as rich or potent of a taste as the unhealthy ones.

     – DeityofAutomation Jan 14 '21 at 07:11
  • @DeityofAutomation Oh, is that so? ○○を好きになりたい is a common phrase for that meaning. Note that you cannot use 欲しい in the sense of "to want to do something" in the first place. – naruto Jan 14 '21 at 07:13
  • Oh, I know. I appreciate the tip though. In the English version, as I understand it, we are describing the psychological state of "wanting" itself. If I want to describe what someone else wants (technically, "shows signs of wanting"), I was told that I had to use「がる」、so「がりたい」only made sense. Can I correctly use「好きになりたい」for others also? – DeityofAutomation Jan 14 '21 at 07:20
  • @DeityofAutomation "She wants to like him" is 彼女は彼(のこと)を好きになりたがっている. 彼女は彼のことを好きになりたい is also fine if the condition described in this answer is met. Does this answer your question? – naruto Jan 14 '21 at 07:39
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    Absolutely. Thank you. 理解いたしました。 – DeityofAutomation Jan 14 '21 at 07:47
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    I wouldn't say 'want to want' is a common English phrase myself. I would understand it, but I'd never heard it before today, and if I were to express the snetiment I'd probably say 'I wish I wanted ~' – Angelos Jan 14 '21 at 08:44