Japanese grammar
What does ～がる (extension, third person) mean? Japanese grammar N4
～がる (extension, third person) means to show signs of ~, to act ~ (about others' feelings).
| Level (estimated, JLPT framework) | N4 |
|---|---|
| Structure | Aい (drop い) + がる Aな + がる V (たい形, drop い) + がる |
| Romaji | ~ garu |
| Meaning | to show signs of ~, to act ~ (about others' feelings) |
Forming it
| Conjugation | がる is a GROUP 1 VERB: がります・がっている・がった |
|---|---|
| i-adjective | Aい (drop い) + がる — 寒い → 寒がる・痛い → 痛がる |
| na-adjective | Aな (drop な) + がる — 嫌な → 嫌がる |
| Desire form (たい) | V(たい, drop い) + がる — 行きたい → 行きたがる |
How to use it
Expressing SOMEONE ELSE's emotion or desire based on external, observable signs.
- Japanese has a very strict rule: emotions and desires are INTERNAL matters, known only to the person themselves. So you cannot state directly 「田中さんは寒いです」・「弟は日本へ行きたいです」— it would sound like you can read someone else's mind.
- がる solves exactly this: it turns an emotion adjective into a VERB describing an observable EXPRESSION. 「弟は日本へ行きたがっています」= my little brother is showing signs of wanting to go to Japan (I can see him saying/acting this way).
- Because がる is a VERB it conjugates like a group 1 verb, and is usually used in the ています form when describing an ongoing state: 行きたがっています rather than 行きたがります, which is rarely said. This is a form-related error Vietnamese speakers often make.
- Important rule: がる is NOT used for the FIRST PERSON. Saying 「私は行きたがっています」 is wrong because you already know your own feelings clearly, with no need to "show signs" of them. The first person uses 行きたいです directly.
- Note the particle: when using がる, the object changes from が to を: 「私は水が飲みたいです」→「弟は水を飲みたがっています」.
Examples
弟は来年日本へ行きたがっています。
My little brother wants to go to Japan next year.
子どもが新しい自転車を欲しがっています。
My child wants a new bicycle.
母は犬を怖がりますから、家では飼えません。
My mother is afraid of dogs, so we can't keep one at home.
Keep in mind
- Commonly used group: 寒がる・暑がる・痛がる・怖がる・嫌がる・欲しがる・～たがる.
- Exception: when using a direct quotation or そうです／ようです, がる isn't needed: 「弟は行きたいと言っています」.
Common mistakes
-
Wrong弟は日本へ行きたいです。
My little brother wants to go to Japan.
Correct弟は日本へ行きたがっています。
SOMEONE ELSE's desire is not stated directly with ～たい — you must use ～たがる (or ～たいと言っています). Vietnamese normally says "my younger sibling wants to go to Japan", so Vietnamese speakers very often make this mistake.
-
Wrong私は日本へ行きたがっています。
I want to go to Japan.
Correct私は日本へ行きたいです。
がる is NOT used for the first person — you already know your own feelings clearly, with no need to "show signs" of them.
-
Wrong子どもが新しい自転車が欲しがっています。
The child wants a new bicycle.
Correct子どもが新しい自転車を欲しがっています。
When changing 欲しい → 欲しがる, the object's particle changes from が to を (because がる is a verb).
Exam tips
- Classic trap: subject is 私 → ～たい; subject is someone else (弟・田中さん) → ～たがる.
- Remember to change the particle が → を when switching to がる.