# てほしい: want someone to do

> Learn how to use てほしい, a JLPT N4 Japanese grammar point meaning want someone to do, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.

JLPT level: N4 · Updated: 2026-05-17 · Canonical: https://hane-app.com/blog/n4-te-hoshii/

**てほしい** means **want someone to do**. It is a **JLPT N4** Japanese grammar pattern used to express this idea in natural Japanese.

This English meaning is written independently from the source list so it answers the learner question directly: what does **てほしい** mean and when should you use it?

## What does てほしい mean?

Use **てほしい** when you want to express **want someone to do** in a Japanese sentence.

Natural translations include:
- want someone to do
- to express “want someone to do” naturally
- the closest natural English meaning in context

## How to form てほしい

<div class="formation">
  <div class="formula">
    <span class="ftoken t-stem">Verb て-form</span>
    <span class="fplus">+</span>
    <span class="ftoken t-core">ほしい</span>
  </div>
</div>

Examples of the pattern:
- Verb て-form + ほしい
- てほしい
- related form: てもらいたい

## When is てほしい used?

Use **てほしい** in situations like:
- reading or writing JLPT N4-level sentences
- making a sentence more precise than a basic N5 pattern
- recognizing natural grammar in conversation or short passages

Tone and register:
- usually neutral unless the pattern itself is casual, humble, honorific, or written
- common in JLPT N4 grammar study and everyday examples

## てほしい example sentences

<div class="examples">
  <div class="example">
    <div class="example-jp">もっとゆっくり<ruby>話<rt>はな</rt></ruby>してほしいです。</div>
    <div class="example-en">I want you to speak more slowly.</div>
    <div class="example-foot"><span class="example-tag">request</span></div>
  </div>
  <div class="example">
    <div class="example-jp"><ruby>明日<rt>あした</rt></ruby><ruby>来<rt>き</rt></ruby>てほしいです。</div>
    <div class="example-en">I want you to come tomorrow.</div>
    <div class="example-foot"><span class="example-tag">invitation</span></div>
  </div>
  <div class="example">
    <div class="example-jp">この<ruby>問<rt>もん</rt></ruby><ruby>題<rt>だい</rt></ruby>を<ruby>説<rt>せつ</rt></ruby><ruby>明<rt>めい</rt></ruby>してほしいです。</div>
    <div class="example-en">I want you to explain this problem.</div>
    <div class="example-foot"><span class="example-tag">request</span></div>
  </div>
  <div class="example">
    <div class="example-jp"><ruby>静<rt>しず</rt></ruby>かにしてほしいです。</div>
    <div class="example-en">I want you to be quiet.</div>
    <div class="example-foot"><span class="example-tag">request</span></div>
  </div>
  <div class="example">
    <div class="example-jp"><ruby>本<rt>ほん</rt></ruby><ruby>当<rt>とう</rt></ruby>のことを<ruby>言<rt>い</rt></ruby>ってほしいです。</div>
    <div class="example-en">I want you to tell the truth.</div>
    <div class="example-foot"><span class="example-tag">desire</span></div>
  </div>
</div>

## Nuance of てほしい

The key nuance is **want someone to do in context**, not a word-for-word English replacement.

This matters because **てほしい** often changes the relationship between actions, people, time, or evidence in the sentence. Read the whole sentence before choosing the English translation.

## てほしい vs てもらいたい

Both patterns can appear in related sentences, but they do different jobs.

<div class="compare">
  <div class="cmp">
    <div class="cmp-head">てほしい</div>
    <div class="cmp-sub">The target JLPT N4 pattern in this lesson</div>
    <div class="cmp-when">Focuses on <strong>want someone to do</strong>.</div>
    <div class="cmp-eg">もっとゆっくり<ruby>話<rt>はな</rt></ruby>してほしいです。</div>
    <div class="cmp-eg-en">I want you to speak more slowly.</div>
  </div>
  <div class="vs">vs</div>
  <div class="cmp">
    <div class="cmp-head">てもらいたい</div>
    <div class="cmp-sub">Useful for comparison because learners often confuse nearby forms</div>
    <div class="cmp-when">May change the tone, evidence, direction, or relationship in the sentence. Compare what changes in evidence, timing, direction, or politeness.</div>
  </div>
</div>

## Common mistakes with てほしい

<div class="mistakes">
  <div class="mistake">
    <div class="mline">
      <span class="mark bad">❌</span>
      <span class="mline-body">Copying a dictionary gloss without checking the sentence context.</span>
    </div>
    <div class="mline">
      <span class="mark good">✅</span>
      <span class="mline-body">Read the full sentence to confirm <strong>てほしい</strong> fits the speaker’s request.</span>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="mistake">
    <div class="mline">
      <span class="mark bad">❌</span>
      <span class="mline-body">Using the wrong verb, adjective, or noun form.</span>
    </div>
    <div class="mline">
      <span class="mark good">✅</span>
      <span class="mline-body">Attach <strong>ほしい</strong> only to the verb て-form.</span>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="mistake">
    <div class="mline">
      <span class="mark bad">❌</span>
      <span class="mline-body">Confusing <strong>てほしい</strong> with <strong>てもらいたい</strong> because the English can sound similar.</span>
    </div>
    <div class="mline">
      <span class="mark good">✅</span>
      <span class="mline-body">Keep them distinct: <strong>てほしい</strong> for direct wants and <strong>てもらいたい</strong> when emphasizing received favor.</span>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

## Is てほしい on the JLPT?

<div class="jlpt-card">
  <div class="jlpt-shield">N4</div>
  <div class="jlpt-info">
    <p>Yes. <strong>てほしい</strong> is connected to <strong>JLPT N4</strong> grammar.</p>
    <div class="jlpt-checks">
      <ul>
        <li>Recognize it in reading</li>
        <li>Understand its nuance in context</li>
        <li>Use it in simple original sentences</li>
      </ul>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

## Practice questions for てほしい

<div class="prompts">
  <div class="prompt">
    <span class="prompt-num">1</span>
    <span class="prompt-text">Write one short sentence using the basic structure.</span>
  </div>
  <div class="prompt">
    <span class="prompt-num">2</span>
    <span class="prompt-text">Replace the subject, time, or object and keep the same grammar point.</span>
  </div>
  <div class="prompt">
    <span class="prompt-num">3</span>
    <span class="prompt-text">Compare your sentence with the related pattern above.</span>
  </div>
</div>

## Learning path for てほしい

Use **てほしい** as part of your **JLPT N4** benefit, request, and emotion grammar with て-forms toolkit. Start with the て-form action, then identify who benefits, who feels grateful, or who receives the request. These patterns are easiest when you draw the direction of favor between speaker, listener, and another person.

<div class="path">
  <div class="path-step">
    <span class="step-num">1</span>
    <div class="step-body">Make one short sentence with <strong>てほしい</strong>.</div>
  </div>
  <div class="path-step">
    <span class="step-num">2</span>
    <div class="step-body">Compare it with <a href="/blog/n4-te-ageru/">てあげる</a>, then add <a href="/blog/n4-te-kureru/">てくれる</a> or <a href="/blog/n4-te-morau/">てもらう</a> to see how the nuance changes.</div>
  </div>
  <div class="path-step">
    <span class="step-num">3</span>
    <div class="step-body">Write one literal sentence, one with a changed subject or time expression, and one that contrasts <strong>てほしい</strong> with a related pattern.</div>
  </div>
</div>

## Related grammar to review next

- [てあげる](/blog/n4-te-ageru/) — clarifies the direction of favor, request, gratitude, or benefit.
- [てくれる](/blog/n4-te-kureru/) — clarifies the direction of favor, request, gratitude, or benefit.
- [てもらう](/blog/n4-te-morau/) — clarifies the direction of favor, request, gratitude, or benefit.
- [てやる](/blog/n4-te-yaru/) — clarifies the direction of favor, request, gratitude, or benefit.

## Learn てほしい with Hane

If you want to review **てほしい** together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.

Browse more lessons here:
- [All grammar lessons](/blog/)
- [JLPT N4 grammar lessons](/blog/n4/)