How to say "wanting" in Japanese

• ほしいJLPT N5approx.Common
  i-adjectiveThe common, ordinary choice for 'wanting': it expresses wanting to have a thing you lack — a book, more free time — or wishing for something, and is what most everyday sentences need.
  私は鉛筆えんぴつをけずるナイフがほしい。↗

  I want a knife to sharpen my pencil with.
• 愛楽あいぎょう
  noun, suru verbSeldom what you need for plain 'wanting': it really means seeking after something such as Buddhist teachings, and its 'wanting, desiring' sense belongs to that religious context, not everyday desires.

For ordinary 'wanting' — desiring a thing you lack or wishing for something — use 「ほしい」; 愛楽 is an uncommon word for seeking after something such as Buddhist teachings, and is rarely the right everyday choice.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• ほしいwanting (to have)
• 愛楽あいぎょうseeking after (Buddhist teachings, etc.)