〜たい: meaning and usage

How to form it

• verb (masu-stem)+たい

How it is used

Expresses the speaker's wish to do something and conjugates like an い-adjective (「たくない」, 「たかった」). The object can take 「を」 or 「が」. For a third person, use 「〜たがっている」; asking a superior 「〜たいですか」 sounds too direct.

Examples

1. 有名な人の中で、誰と会いたい？

   Which famous person do you want to meet?

2. 夏休みに海で泳ぎたいです。

   I want to swim in the sea during summer vacation.

3. 今日はどこにも行きたくない。

   I don't want to go anywhere today.

About the example In 会いたい, たい expresses a desire to meet someone. The question asks which famous person the listener wants to meet.