Grammar › N4 · 01 Potential, ability & wanting
〜たがる: wants to (third person)
N4 · 01 Potential, ability & wanting
Says that another person wants to do something, judging from how they act.
Verb stem + たがる, usually as 〜たがっている. Use 〜たい for your own wish and 〜たがる for a third person (弟は行きたがっている). Not used for the speaker. Often has a slight feeling of observing from outside.
Examples
弟は新しいゲームを買いたがっている。
My little brother wants to buy a new game.
子どもたちは外で遊びたがります。
The children want to play outside.