Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 6: 12/16

様(よう)に～て欲(ほ)しい

Want ~ to ~ like ~, Want ~ to be able to ~, Want ~ to ~ in the way of ~

Structure

Verb + ように + Verb［て］ + ほしい
Noun + のように + Verb［て］ + ほしい

Details

  • Register

    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About ように～てほしい

(A) ように～てほしい is an expression in Japanese which combines the auxiliary verb, ようだ, with the てほしい structure (indicating that you/someone else wants someone to do something). As ようだ is being linked to a verb which comes later in the sentence, it will take on the adverbial form ように.
This expression is used to highlight that you (or someone else) want someone to do something 'in the way of (A)'.
  • 弁護士(べんごし)になれるように頑張(がんば)ってほしい。
    I want you to work your hardest, so that you can become a lawyer.
  • このチームが大会(たいかい)で勝(か)てるようになってほしい。
    I want this team to be able to win a tournament.
  • お前(まえ)にはスポーツ選手(せんしゅ)のように走(はし)ってほしい。
    I want you to run like an athlete.
  • もっとアナウンサーのように話(はな)してほしい。
    I want you to talk more like an announcer.
Note that when ように follows a noun, の will be required.
Either に or が may mark the thing that the speaker 'wants' to do. It is more common for に to be used to mark people, while が will often mark events/objects.
  • あなたに漢字(かんじ)を書(か)けるようになってほしい。
    I want you to be able to write kanji.
  • 事故(じこ)が無(な)くなるように運転(うんてん)をしてほしい。
    I want people to drive in a way that will reduce accidents.
Fun Fact
Sometimes が and に will be switched, if either of those particles have already been used somewhere else in a sentence. This is mainly to avoid sounding repetitive, or confusion about what the subject of the sentence is.
  • トムに友達(ともだち)ができるようになってほしい。
    I want Tom to be able to make some friends.

Examples

  • 私(わたし)たちの子供(こども)には君(きみ)のようになってほしい。

    I want our children to become like you.

  • この電車(でんしゃ)が新幹線(しんかんせん)のように早(はや)く走(はし)ってほしいです。

    I want this train to run fast like a bullet train.

  • 赤(あか)ちゃんの前(まえ)でも大人(おとな)のように喋(しゃべ)ってほしい。

    I want (you) to talk like an adult even in front of my baby.

  • 頭(あたま)がよくなるように勉強(べんきょう)してほしい。

    I want (you) to study in a way that allows you to become smart.

  • ウサインボルトのように走(はし)ってほしい。

    I want (you) to run like Usain Bolt.

  • Get more example sentences!

    Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.

Self-Study Sentences

Study your own way!

Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.

ように～てほしい – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (12 in total)

  • Chiinox

    Chiinox

    I have a question about the example sentence
    " ブラジルのように負けて欲しくない" - “I don’t want you to lose like Brazil.”
    The following sentence isn’t accepted:
    " ブラジルのように負けなくて欲しい"

    I’m wondering, does it change the meaning, or is it not grammatically correct? If so, why? Moving the negative from ほしい to 負ける. In English it’d be the difference between “I want you to not lose” / “I don’t want you to lose” which is basically the same thing.

  • IcyIceBear

    IcyIceBear

    Opposite meaning the way I see it. (If it’s grammatically correct I’m not sure)

    The correct answer
    “I don’t want you to lose like Brazil”
    ブラジルのように負けて欲しくない like Brazil, lose, don’t want

    The one you tried
    “I want you to not lose, like Brazil”
    ブラジルのように負けなくて欲しい like Brazil not lose, want

    The first, Brazil lost and I don’t want you to be like them

    The second, Brazil didn’t lose, and I want you to be like them

  • nekoyama

    nekoyama

    This should be 負けないで欲しい.

    As for the difference in nuance…

Got questions about ように～てほしい? Join us to discuss, ask, and learn together!

Join the Discussion