1.
to appear to want to; to be eager to
Verb stem plus たがる. Reports a desire that is visible from the outside, so it is used about a third person rather than about oneself: 弟は行きたがっている (my brother wants to go).
Attaches to the verb stem and then conjugates like a godan verb: 行きたがる, 行きたがらない, 行きたがった. The object of the wanted action takes を, not が.
Usage
- 〜たがっている describes what someone wants at this moment; plain 〜たがる describes a standing tendency.
- Do not use it about yourself — use 〜たい instead.
- About a superior or a customer it can sound presumptuous; 〜たいとおっしゃっています is safer.
Similar forms
- 〜たい: want to — used for one's own desire, or in questions to the listener
- 欲しがる: to want (a thing) — the same third-person logic applied to objects rather than actions
Related Words
Related:
〜たい