Want in Chinese 想 xiǎng and 要 yào

”Want“ in Chinese

Posted on by tiffany

Grammar Point:
There are three words in Chinese that can express the concept of ‘want’: 想 xiǎng, 要 yào, and 想要 xiǎngyào. However, they are not exactly the same and each has additional meanings attached to them.

想 xiǎng

想 xiǎng usually refers to a thought or an idea, without any definite plans or decisions made yet. In Chinese work culture, it is common to ‘offer a thought or an idea’ to supervisors rather than giving direct suggestions. Therefore, when talking to our bosses, we tend to use 想 xiǎng more often than 要 yào.

想 + Noun = to miss

我wǒ想xiǎng奶奶nǎinai
I miss my grandma.

我wǒ好hǎo想xiǎng我的wǒde狗gǒu
I miss my dog so much.

我wǒ很hěn想xiǎng你nǐ， 你nǐ不bù想xiǎng我wǒ吗ma？
I miss you. Don’t you miss me?

想 + sentence = ponder; think

你nǐ想想看xiǎngxiǎngkàn我们wǒmen该gāi怎么zěnyāo做zuò！
Try to think about what we should do!

我wǒ想xiǎng那个nàge人rén可能kěnéng是shì外国人wàiguórén
I think that person might be a foreigner.

FYI
Did you know that when Chinese people express their thoughts with “I think,” they often use 我觉得 wǒ juéde (I feel) instead of 我想 wǒ xiǎng (I think)? This is because using 我觉得 wǒ juéde sounds more polite and humble, without being too assertive. In some situations where sharing opinions may not be encouraged or might be impolite, using 我想 wǒ xiǎng might come across as too direct or forceful. Furthermore, by using 我觉得 wǒ juéde, speakers can convey a sense of open-mindedness and uncertainty, as if they are offering a suggestion instead of a definite answer.

想 + Verb = to want (but still just a thought no plan yet)

我wǒ今天jīntiān中午zhōngwǔ想xiǎng吃chī寿司shòusī
I want to eat sushi for lunch today.
(It’s just a thought. You don’t have a restaurant in your mind yet.)

他tā不bù想xiǎng学xué中国zhōngguó字zì
He doesn’t want to learn Chinese characters.

要 yào

要 yào is a stronger expression of desire than 想 xiǎng, as it implies a greater level of willingness and decision. Therefore, it is usually not used when speaking to one’s boss or professor, although they may use it frequently when speaking to you. When ordering food, 要 yào is the appropriate term to use, as it reflects the decision you have made regarding your order.

要 + Noun = order food

我wǒ要yào一yì杯bēi美式měishì咖啡kāfēi
I’d like an Americano.

我的wǒde义大利面yìdàlìmiàn不要búyào蘑菇mógū
No mushrooms for my spaghetti.

要 + sentence = commands

我wǒ要yào你nǐ明天míngtiān以前yǐqián给gěi我wǒ那nà个ge资料zīliào
I need you to give me that information by tomorrow.

老师lǎoshī要yào我wǒ写xiě这zhè个ge字zì十shí次cì
The teacher asked me to write this word 10 times.
(Do not use 問问 wèn to express the ask here. The character 問问 wèn is only use for asking a question.)

要 + Verb = to want (you have a plan or you have made a decision)

我wǒ今天jīntiān中午zhōngwǔ要yào吃chī寿司shòusī
I want to eat sushi for lunch today.
(I have a restaurant in my mind and I am pretty sure that I am going to eat today.)

他tā不要búyào学xué中国字zhōngguózì
He is not going to learn Chinese characters.

想要 xiǎngyào

想要 xiǎngyào is a combination of 想 xiǎng and 要 yào, and therefore its meaning is somewhat intermediate between the two. It implies that you have a rough plan in mind, or that you are around 50% sure that something will happen. This is the most commonly used term when speaking with friends and colleagues.

想要 xiǎngyào + V/N/Sentence = to want

我wǒ下xià礼拜天lǐbàitiān想要xiǎngyào去qù吃chī寿司shòusī， 你nǐ去qù不bú去qù？
I want to go to eat sushi next Sunday, do you want to go?

他tā想要xiǎngyào我wǒ当dāng他的tāde女朋友nǚpéngyou
He wants me to be his girlfriend.

我wǒ想要xiǎngyào很hěn多duō钱qián！
I want a lot of money!

Compare These Three “Wants”

他tā想xiǎng我wǒ当dāng他的tāde女朋友nǚpéngyou
He hopes I can be his girlfriend.

他tā想要xiǎngyào我wǒ当dāng他的tāde女朋友nǚpéngyou
He wants me to be his girlfriend.

他tā要yào我wǒ当dāng他的tāde女朋友nǚpéngyou
He asked me to be his girlfriend.

Want

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