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How to Say ‘Want them to win’ in Japanese

勝ってほしい

katsu te hoshii

[kaht teh hoh-shee]

💬 Usage Tip: [勝ってほしい] literally means "I want (them) to win." The pattern [てほしい] expresses wanting someone else to do something.

🇯🇵 In Japan: This is a classic fan phrase in Japan: emotional, supportive, and a little humble compared with sounding too forceful.

Phrase Breakdown

勝っ

katsu

[kaht]

win

Stem of 勝つ, used here in the te-form construction.

Example

最後まで勝ってほしい。

I want them to win until the end.

te

[teh]

and; te-form connector

Part of the te-form 勝って, which links to ほしい to mean wanting someone to win.

Example

このまま勝ってほしい。

I want them to win as things are now.

ほしい

hoshii

[hoh-shee]

want; want someone to do

After a te-form verb, it expresses wanting someone to do that action.

Example

日本に勝ってほしい。

I want Japan to win.

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