Is it true that we cannot say the feeling of a third person using たい, ほしい, 楽しい?


I heard that we cannot describe the feeling of a third person using たい, ほしい,
楽しい, and others? Is it true?

For example, the following sentences are considered incorrect.

  * あの人は楽しかったです。
  * 亀は寂しいです。
  * 彼はお好み焼きを食べたいです。
  * 彼女は赤ちゃんがほしいです。




It is not exactly _incorrect_ to do that, but you should try to avoid assuming
other people's emotions because you can never know them for sure.

The way to get around it is to add uncertainty to the statement. Most
commonly, at least in casual conversation, you use でしょう at the end.

> 彼はピザを食べたいでしょう - (it seems) he wants to eat pizza.

You can also use the -がる grammar for adjectives, but this often has an
impersonal and distant feel to it, so it's not used as often.




It is not exactly _incorrect_ to do that, but you should try to avoid assuming
other people's emotions because you can never know them for sure.

The way to get around it is to add uncertainty to the statement. Most
commonly, at least in casual conversation, you use でしょう at the end.

> 彼はピザを食べたいでしょう - (it seems) he wants to eat pizza.

You can also use the -がる grammar for adjectives, but this often has an
impersonal and distant feel to it, so it's not used as often.

