Expressing the Desire/Wish to Do Something in Japanese

When I went to Japan for the first time years ago, this is something I simply couldn't express: the wish/desire to do something. "I want to go there, I would like to taste this food, I wish I could try that one day, ...".

In this case, the dictionary doesn't help much because there isn't really a way to translate the word "want" or "would like". What you need to do, though, isn't too difficult: simply use the -tai form of a verb.

For example, "I want to eat" would be 食べたい (tabetai). "I want to drink": 飲みたい (nomitai), "I want to go": 行きたい (ikitai).

This tai-form of a verb is very useful and not too hard to remember/use.

In the cases the person desiring an action is not the same as the person performing the action, you need to use something else. For example: "I want him to do this". You cannot use the V-tai form because it would mean "I want to do this (myself)". In that case, you need to use the "-te hoshii" form. In the previous example (a bit vague to have a proper translation), something like "彼がこれをしてほしい" would be used (sounds very textbook but please focus on the -te hoshii form).

I want him to come tonight: 今夜,彼が来てほしいです。(konya karega kite hoshii desu)

I would like it to snow: 雪が降ってほしい。(yuki ga futte hoshii)

After hoshii, you should use です (desu) in formal occasion or nothing for familiar/informal language.

Hope this helps you expressing your desire to do something or desire that something is done by someone.