<!DOCTYPE html> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <head> <meta name="generator" content= "HTML Tidy for HTML5 for Linux version 5.2.0" /> <title></title> </head> <body> <p>Both 要 (yào) and 想 (xiǎng) can essentially mean "want," but they can also be used in quite different ways, such as 想 (xiǎng) also meaning "to miss" when followed by a noun, and 要 (yào) also meaning "going to (do something)."</p> <h2 id="followed-by-a-noun">Followed by a Noun</h2> <p>Both 要 (yào) and 想 (xiǎng) may be followed by nouns, but pay attention to how the meaning of 想 (xiǎng) totally changes when used this way.</p> <h3 id="要-yào-as-to-want">要 (yào) as "to Want"</h3> <h4 id="structure">Structure</h4> <p>In this pattern, 要 (yào) is directly followed by a thing (a noun), rather than by a verb. It is often used to buy something, or to order food at a restaurant.</p> <p>It may be helpful to imagine a demanding child using this pattern to get stuff from his parents. This "<em>I want x!</em>" pattern can seem slightly impolite, but to the Chinese ear it's not as inherently rude as it may seem when translated directly into English. Tone of voice plays a key role when using this pattern in spoken Chinese.</p> <div class="jiegou"> <p>Subj. + 要 + Noun</p> </div> <h4 id="examples">Examples</h4> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>你 也 <em>要</em> 茶 吗？<span class="expl pdf-simple-expl">ordering in a restaurant</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ yě <em>yào</em> chá ma?</span> <span class="trans">Do you also want tea?</span></li> <li>我们 都 <em>要</em> 咖啡。<span class="expl pdf-simple-expl">ordering in a cafe</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen dōu <em>yào</em> kāfēi.</span><span class="trans">We all want coffee.</span></li> <li>大家 <em>要</em> 不 <em>要</em> 米饭？<span class= "expl pdf-simple-expl">ordering in a restaurant</span><span class= "pinyin">Dàjiā <em>yào</em> bù <em>yào</em> mǐfàn?</span> <span class="trans">Does everyone want rice?</span></li> <li>你们 <em>要</em> 冰水 还是 热水？<span class= "expl pdf-simple-expl">ordering in a restaurant</span><span class= "pinyin">Nǐmen <em>yào</em> bīng shuǐ háishì rè shuǐ?</span> <span class="trans">Do you want ice water or hot water?</span></li> <li>谢谢，我 什么 都 不 <em>要</em>。<span class= "expl pdf-simple-expl">ordering in a restaurant</span><span class= "pinyin">Xièxiè, wǒ shénme dōu bù <em>yào</em>.</span><span class= "trans">Thank you. I don't need anything.</span></li> </ul> </div> <h3 id="想-xiǎng-as-to-miss">想 (xiǎng) as "to Miss"</h3> <p><strong>Pay attention here:</strong> unlike "想 (xiǎng) + Verb," the meaning of 想 (xiǎng) in the "想 (xiǎng) + Noun" pattern becomes "to miss."</p> <h4 id="structure-1">Structure</h4> <div class="jiegou"> <p>Subj. + 想 + Noun</p> </div> <h4 id="examples-1">Examples</h4> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>我 <em>想</em> 你。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>xiǎng</em> nǐ.</span><span class="trans">I miss you.</span></li> <li>我 有点 <em>想</em> 我 的 家人。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ yǒudiǎn <em>xiǎng</em> wǒ de jiārén.</span><span class="trans">I sort of miss my family.</span></li> <li>你们 回 美国 以后， 会 <em>想</em> 中国菜 吗？<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen huí Měiguó yǐhòu, huì <em>xiǎng</em> Zhōngguó cài ma?</span> <span class="trans">Will you all miss Chinese food after you go back to the U.S.?</span></li> <li>你女朋友 不 在 的时候，你 会 <em>想</em> 她 吗？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ nǚpéngyou bù zài de shíhou, nǐ huì <em>xiǎng</em> tā ma?</span> <span class="trans">Do you miss your girlfriend when she is not around?</span></li> <li>妈妈 打 电话 的 时候 跟 我 说， 她 很 <em>想</em> 我。<span class="pinyin">Māma dǎ diànhuà de shíhou gēn wǒ shuō, tā hěn <em>xiǎng</em> wǒ.</span><span class="trans">Mom called me and said she misses me a lot.</span></li> </ul> </div> <h2 id="followed-by-a-verb">Followed by a Verb</h2> <p>要 (yào) and 想 (xiǎng) have similar meanings when followed by verbs. The difference is rather subtle, but 要 (yào) can sound more urgent or demanding (sometimes even childish), while 想 (xiǎng) is usually a bit more mature and polite. Tone of voice plays a big role here as well, though, so don't be afraid of offending people by using 要 (yào); the word itself isn't rude.</p> <h3 id="要-yào-as-want-to">要 (yào) as "Want to"</h3> <h4 id="structure-2">Structure</h4> <p>It might help to think of 要 (yào) in this sense as meaning "want to" and 想 (xiǎng) as meaning "would like to."</p> <div class="jiegou"> <p>Subj. + 要 + Verb</p> </div> <h4 id="examples-2">Examples</h4> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>我 <em>要</em> 休息 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yào</em> xiūxi.</span><span class="trans">I want to rest.</span></li> <li>你 也 <em>要</em> 回家 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yě <em>yào</em> huíjiā ma?</span> <span class="trans">Do you also want to go home?</span></li> <li>你们 <em>要</em> 喝 什么 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>yào</em> hē shénme?</span> <span class="trans">What do you want to drink?</span></li> <li>我 <em>要</em> 帮 老板 做 完 这些 工作 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yào</em> bāng lǎobǎn zuò wán zhèxiē gōngzuò.</span><span class= "trans">I want to help the boss finish this work.</span></li> <li>大家 晚上 <em>要</em> 不 <em>要</em> 出去 吃 ？<span class="pinyin">Dàjiā wǎnshang <em>yào</em> bu <em>yào</em> chūqù chī?</span> <span class="trans">Does everyone want to go out to eat tonight?</span></li> </ul> </div> <h3 id="想-xiǎng-as-would-like-to">想 (xiǎng) as "Would Like to"</h3> <h4 id="structure-3">Structure</h4> <p>It might help to think of 想 (xiǎng) as meaning "would like to" instead of "want to." In English, as well, "would like to" feels more indirect, and thus less demanding and more more polite.</p> <div class="jiegou"> <p>Subj. + 想 + Verb</p> </div> <h4 id="examples-3">Examples</h4> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>你 <em>想</em> 去 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>xiǎng</em> qù ma?</span> <span class="trans">Would you like to go?</span></li> <li>我 不 <em>想</em> 见 她 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ bù <em>xiǎng</em> jiàn tā.</span><span class="trans">I wouldn't like to see her.</span></li> <li>周末 你们 <em>想</em> 看 电影 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Zhōumò nǐmen <em>xiǎng</em> kàn diànyǐng ma?</span> <span class="trans">Would you like to see a movie this weekend?</span></li> <li>我 <em>想</em> 请 你 吃饭 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>xiǎng</em> qǐng nǐ chīfàn.</span><span class="trans">I'd like to treat you to dinner.</span></li> <li>他们 春节 不 <em>想</em> 回家 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Tāmen Chūnjié bù <em>xiǎng</em> huíjiā ma?</span> <span class="trans">Don't they want to go back home for Spring Festival?</span></li> </ul> </div> <h3 id="要-yào-as-going-to">要 (yào) as "Going to"</h3> <p>要 is used to indicate plans for the near future, much like "going to" in English. 想 (xiǎng) is not used in this way.</p> <h4 id="structure-4">Structure</h4> <div class="jiegou"> <p>Subj. + 要 + Verb</p> </div> <h4 id="examples-4">Examples</h4> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>星期六 我 <em>要</em> 去 北京。<span class="pinyin">Xīngqīliù wǒ <em>yào</em> qù Běijīng.</span><span class="trans">I'm going to Beijing on Saturday.</span></li> <li>下 个 月 她 <em>要</em> 找 新 工作。<span class="pinyin">Xià gè yuè tā <em>yào</em> zhǎo xīn gōngzuò.</span><span class="trans">She is going to look for a new job next month.</span></li> <li>这个 周末 你们 <em>要</em> 出去 玩 吗？<span class="pinyin">Zhège zhōumò nǐmen <em>yào</em> chūqù wán ma?</span> <span class="trans">Are you going out partying this weekend?</span></li> <li>结婚 以后，你 <em>要</em> 跟 父母 住 在 一起 吗？<span class="pinyin">Jiéhūn yǐhòu, nǐ <em>yào</em> gēn nǐ fùmǔ zhù zài yīqǐ ma?</span> <span class="trans">Are you going to live together with your parents after you get married?</span></li> <li>生 完 孩子 以后，你 太太 <em>要</em> 回去 工作 吗？<span class="pinyin">Shēng wán háizi yǐhòu, nǐ tàitai <em>yào</em> huíqù gōngzuò ma?</span> <span class="trans">Is your wife going back to work after she finishes giving birth to the baby?</span></li> </ul> </div> <h2 id="想要-xiǎngyào-as-want">想要 (xiǎngyào) as "Want"</h2> <h3 id="structure-5">Structure</h3> <p>You can put 要 (yào) and 想 (xiǎng) together to make the word 想要 (xiǎngyào), which means "to want." You can put either nouns or verbs after it.</p> <div class="jiegou"> <p>Subj. + 想要 + Noun / Verb</p> </div> <h3 id="examples-5">Examples</h3> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>你 <em>想要</em> 几 个 孩子 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>xiǎngyào</em> jǐ gè háizi?</span> <span class="trans">How many kids do you want to have?</span></li> <li>我 老婆 总是 <em>想要</em> 最 贵 的 包。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ lǎopo zǒngshì <em>xiǎngyào</em> zuì guì de bāo.</span><span class= "trans">My wife always wants the most expensive bags.</span></li> <li>她 <em>想要</em> 找 一 个 有钱 的 男朋友 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>xiǎngyào</em> zhǎo yī gè yǒuqián de nánpéngyou.</span><span class="trans">She wants to find a rich boyfriend.</span></li> <li>你们 为什么 <em>想要</em> 离开 北京 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen wèishénme <em>xiǎngyào</em> líkāi Běijīng?</span> <span class="trans">Why do you all want to leave Beijing?</span></li> <li>他 <em>想要</em> 帮 你 找 一 个 更好 的 工作。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>xiǎngyào</em> bāng nǐ zhǎo yī gè gèng hǎo de gōngzuò.</span><span class="trans">He wants to help you find a better job.</span></li> </ul> </div> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul> <li><a href="Wanting_to_do_something_with_yao" title= "wikilink">Wanting to do something with yao</a></li> <li><a href=""Would_like_to"_with_xiang" title= "wikilink">"Would like to" with xiang</a></li> <li><a href= "Auxiliary_verb_"yao"_and_its_multiple_meanings" title= "wikilink">Auxiliary verb "yao" and its multiple meanings</a></li> <li><a href="Negative_commands_with_"bu_yao"" title= "wikilink">Negative commands with "bu yao"</a></li> <li><a href="Expressing_determination_with_"feiyao"" title="wikilink">Expressing determination with "feiyao"</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="sources-and-further-reading">Sources and further reading</h2> <h3 id="books">Books</h3> <ul> <li><a href="Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_1_(3rd_ed)" title= "wikilink">Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)</a> (pp. 154-5) <a href= "http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385"> →buy</a></li> </ul> <p><a href="Category:grammar_comparison" title= "wikilink">Category:grammar comparison</a></p> </body> </html>