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)."

Followed by a Noun
------------------

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.

### 要 (yào) as "to Want"

#### Structure

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.

It may be helpful to imagine a demanding child using this pattern to get
stuff from his parents. This "*I want x!*" 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.

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 要 + Noun

</div>
#### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   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>
-   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>
-   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>
-   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>
-   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>

</div>
### 想 (xiǎng) as "to Miss"

**Pay attention here:** unlike "想 (xiǎng) + Verb," the meaning of 想
(xiǎng) in the "想 (xiǎng) + Noun" pattern becomes "to miss."

#### Structure

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 想 + Noun

</div>
#### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   我 <em>想</em> 你。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>xiǎng</em>
    nǐ.</span><span class="trans">I miss you.</span>
-   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>
-   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>
-   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>
-   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>

</div>
Followed by a Verb
------------------

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.

### 要 (yào) as "Want to"

#### Structure

It might help to think of 要 (yào) in this sense as meaning "want to"
and 想 (xiǎng) as meaning "would like to."

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 要 + Verb

</div>
#### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   我 <em>要</em> 休息 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yào</em>
    xiūxi.</span><span class="trans">I want to rest.</span>
-   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>
-   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>
-   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>
-   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>

</div>
### 想 (xiǎng) as "Would Like to"

#### Structure

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.

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 想 + Verb

</div>
#### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   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>
-   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>
-   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>
-   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>
-   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>

</div>
### 要 (yào) as "Going to"

要 is used to indicate plans for the near future, much like "going to"
in English. 想 (xiǎng) is not used in this way.

#### Structure

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 要 + Verb

</div>
#### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   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>
-   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>
-   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>
-   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>
-   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>

</div>
想要 (xiǎngyào) as "Want"
-------------------------

### Structure

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.

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 想要 + Noun / Verb

</div>
### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   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>
-   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>
-   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>
-   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>
-   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>

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

-   [Wanting to do something with
    yao](Wanting_to_do_something_with_yao "wikilink")
-   ["Would like to" with xiang]("Would_like_to"_with_xiang "wikilink")
-   [Auxiliary verb "yao" and its multiple
    meanings](Auxiliary_verb_"yao"_and_its_multiple_meanings "wikilink")
-   [Negative commands with "bu
    yao"](Negative_commands_with_"bu_yao" "wikilink")
-   [Expressing determination with
    "feiyao"](Expressing_determination_with_"feiyao" "wikilink")

Sources and further reading
---------------------------

### Books

-   [Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1
    (3rd ed)](Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_1_(3rd_ed) "wikilink") (pp.
    154-5)
    [→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)

[Category:grammar comparison](Category:grammar_comparison "wikilink")