If you want to express something that you "would like to do," 想 (xiǎng)
will be a very helpful auxiliary verb to know. Although similar to 要
(yào), 想 (xiǎng) will give you another more tactful option when you
want to articulate a desire.

Basic Usage
-----------

### Structure

The verb 想 (xiǎng) can be used to express "would like to." In this case
it's an [auxiliary verb](auxiliary_verb "wikilink"). The structure is:

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 想 + Verb (+ Obj.)

</div>
### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   你 <em>想</em> <strong>去</strong> 吗？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ
    <em>xiǎng</em> <strong>qù</strong> ma?
    </span><span class="trans">Would you like to go? </span>
-   我 <em>想</em> <strong>吃</strong> 面。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ
    <em>xiǎng</em> <strong>chī</strong>
    miàn.</span><span class="trans">I would like to eat noodles.</span>
-   你 <em>想</em> <strong>喝</strong> 水 吗？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ
    <em>xiǎng</em> <strong>hē</strong> shuǐ ma?
    </span><span class="trans">Would you like to drink some water?
    </span>
-   我们 <em>想</em> <strong>看</strong>
    电视。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>xiǎng</em> <strong>kàn</strong>
    diànshì.</span><span class="trans">We would like to watch TV.</span>
-   他 <em>想</em> <strong>买</strong> 一 个 大 房子。
    <span class="pinyin">Tā <em>xiǎng</em> <strong>mǎi</strong> yī gè dà
    fángzi.</span><span class="trans">He would like to buy a big
    apartment.</span>

</div>
Negate 想 (xiǎng) with 不 (bù)
------------------------------

No surprises here: [use 不 (bù) to
negate](Standard_negation_with_"bu" "wikilink") 想 (xiǎng).

### Structure

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 不 + 想 + Verb + Obj.

</div>
### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   他们 <em>不 想</em> 去 酒吧。 <span class="pinyin">Tāmen <em>bù
    xiǎng</em> qù jiǔbā.</span><span class="trans">They wouldn't like to
    go to the bar.</span>
-   你 <em>不 想</em> 认识 这个 美女 吗？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>bù
    xiǎng</em> rènshi zhège měinǚ ma? </span><span class="trans">Would
    you not like to know this beautiful lady? </span>
-   我 <em>不 想</em> 回家。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>bù xiǎng</em>
    huíjiā.</span><span class="trans">I wouldn't like to return
    home.</span>
-   那个 地方 很 近，我 <em>不 想</em> 开车。<span class="pinyin">Nàge
    dìfang hěn jìn, wǒ <em>bù xiǎng</em>
    kāichē.</span><span class="trans">That place is so close. I would
    not like to drive.</span>
-   他 <em>不 想</em> 花 父母 的 钱。 <span class="pinyin">Tā <em>bù
    xiǎng</em> huā fùmǔ de qián.</span><span class="trans">He would not
    like to spend his parents' money.</span>

</div>
See also
--------

-   [Wanting to do something with
    yao](Wanting_to_do_something_with_yao "wikilink")

Sources and Further Reading
---------------------------

### Books

-   [Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1
    (3rd ed)](Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_1_(3rd_ed) "wikilink") (pp.
    112-3)　[→buy](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)
-   [New Practical Chinese Reader
    1 (新实用汉语课本1)](New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_1_(新实用汉语课本1) "wikilink") (pp.
    179-80)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561910401/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561910401)
-   [New Practical Chinese Reader 1
    (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed)](New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_1_(新实用汉语课本1)(2nd_ed) "wikilink") (pp.
    207)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561926235/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7561926235)

### Websites

-   Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary: [The Uses of
    想](http://comet.cls.yale.edu/chineseusagedictionary/0133.html)

[Category:A2 grammar points](Category:A2_grammar_points "wikilink")