～がる・～たがる
Describe another person's feelings or desires
You'll be able to describe observable signs of someone else's emotions with ～がる and their apparent wishes with ～たがる.
芽衣は犬を怖がっています。
mei wa inu o kowagatte imasu.
What do you think this sentence means?
Mei is showing that she is afraid of the dog.
Describe outward signs of a feeling or desire
～がる presents someone’s observable reaction to a feeling. ～たがる describes signs that someone wants to do an action. They are useful when reporting another person’s state from behavior.
蓮は外に行きたがっています。
ren wa soto ni ikitagatte imasu.
Ren is showing that he wants to go outside.
Form and use ～がる・～たがる
Current reactions commonly use がっている and たがっている. These are Group 1 verbs. Not every adjective accepts がる; use established feelings such as 怖がる. Direct quotations or questions can use ordinary ～たい for another person.
蓮は外に行きたがっています。
ren wa soto ni ikitagatte imasu.
Ren is showing that he wants to go outside.
芽衣は新しい自転車を欲しがっています。
mei wa atarashii jitensha o hoshigatte imasu.
Mei is showing that she wants a new bicycle.
弟は歯医者を怖がっています。
otouto wa haisha o kowagatte imasu.
My younger brother is scared of the dentist.
娘は新しいゲームを欲しがっています。
musume wa atarashii geemu o hoshigatte imasu.
My daughter wants a new game.
子どもたちは早く海で泳ぎたがっています。
kodomotachi wa hayaku umi de oyogitagatte imasu.
The children are eager to swim in the sea.
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