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たい

tai

たい is a hand reaching out of you

The picture A hand stretching forward out of your own chest. That hand only ever grows out of you.

Everyday expressions

Where the picture shows up in たい

  1. the hand reaching now

    今日は早く帰りたいです。

    kyō wa hayaku kaeritai desu

    I want to go home early today.

  2. what the hand grabs

    冷たい水が飲みたい

    tsumetai mizu ga nomitai

    I want a drink of cold water.

    Before たい, が sounds more natural than を: the noun is what pulls you, not what you act on.

  3. a hand held out gently

    ちょっと相談したいんですが。

    chotto sōdan shitai n desu ga

    There's something I'd like to ask you about.

    To a superior, したいんですが lands softer than したいです.

  4. a hand you reached long ago

    昔は看護師になりたかったです。

    mukashi wa kangoshi ni naritakatta desu

    I wanted to be a nurse back then.

  5. pulling the hand back

    今日はあまり残業したくないです。

    kyō wa amari zangyō shitakunai desu

    I'd rather not work overtime today.

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