〜がる
がる
suffix
to show signs of, to feel
1.
to show signs of, to appear to feel
Suffix attached to the stem of adjectives (both i-adjectives and na-adjectives) to indicate that someone other than the speaker shows outward signs of feeling or wanting something. Since Japanese speakers cannot directly state another person's internal feelings, this suffix is used to describe observable behavior.
子供が怖がっている。
The child is showing signs of being scared.
怖い → 怖がる
猫が寒がって布団に入ってきた。
The cat seemed cold and got into the futon.
寒い → 寒がる
あの人はいつも新しいものを欲しがる。
That person always wants new things.
欲しい → 欲しがる
FORMATION: Attach がる to adjective stems.
- I-adjectives: drop い, add がる (怖い → 怖がる)
- Na-adjectives: add がる (嫌 → 嫌がる)
- 欲しい → 欲しがる (to want)
- 〜たい → 〜たがる (to want to do)
USAGE NOTE: Cannot be used for the speaker's own feelings (use the plain adjective instead). Creates a godan verb that conjugates normally: がる → がって → がった → がらない.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 怖がる (to be scared)
- 寒がる (to feel cold)
- 暑がる (to feel hot)
- 嫌がる (to dislike, show aversion)
- 欲しがる (to want)
- 食べたがる (to want to eat)
The suffix creates objective descriptions of others' emotional states, respecting Japanese norms about not claiming to know others' inner feelings directly.
Related Words
Related:
嫌がる