eric
/
ChineseGrammarWiki


			
				
					
						
						
							123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133134135136137138139140141142143144145146147148149150151152153154155156157158159160161162163164165166167168169170171172173174175176177178179180181182183184185186187188189190191192193194195196197198199200201202203204
							<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<!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>Comparing "yao" and "xiang"</title>
  <link href="../Styles/main.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"/>
</head>

<body>
  <h1>Comparing "<span class="pinyinst">yao</span>"<span class="hanzist">要</span>" and "<span class="pinyinst">xiang</span>"<span class="hanzist">想</span>"</h1>

  <p>Both <span class="hanzi">要</span> (<span class="pinyin">yào</span>) and <span class="hanzi">想</span> (<span class="pinyin">xiǎng</span>) can essentially mean "want," but they can also be used in quite different ways, such as <span class="hanzi">想</span> (<span class="pinyin">xiǎng</span>) also meaning "to miss" when followed by a noun, and <span class="hanzi">要</span> (<span class="pinyin">yào</span>) also meaning "going to (do something)."</p>

  <h2 id="followed-by-a-noun">Followed by a Noun</h2>

  <p>Both <span class="hanzi">要</span> (<span class="pinyin">yào</span>) and <span class="hanzi">想</span> (<span class="pinyin">xiǎng</span>) may be followed by nouns, but pay attention to how the meaning of <span class="hanzi">想</span> (<span class="pinyin">xiǎng</span>) totally changes when used this way.</p>

  <h3 id="要-yào-as-to-want"><span class="hanzist">要</span> (<span class="pinyinst">yào</span>) as "to Want"</h3>

  <h4 id="structure">Structure</h4>

  <p>In this pattern, <span class="hanzi">要</span> (<span class="pinyin">yào</span>) 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 "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.</p>

  <div class="deux">
    <p>Subj. + <span class="hanzist">要</span> + Noun</p>
  </div>

  <h4 id="examples">Examples</h4>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">你 也 要 茶 吗？</span> <br/> <span class="vert">ordering in a restaurant</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Nǐ yě yào chá ma?</span> <br/> Do you also want tea?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我们 都 要 咖啡。</span> <br/> <span class="vert">ordering in a cafe</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen dōu yào kāfēi.</span> <br/> We all want coffee.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">大家 要 不 要 米饭？</span> <br/> <span class="vert">ordering in a restaurant</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Dàjiā yào bù yào mǐfàn?</span> <br/> Does everyone want rice?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">你们 要 冰水 还是 热水？</span> <br/> <span class="vert">ordering in a restaurant</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Nǐmen yào bīng shuǐ háishì rè shuǐ?</span> <br/> Do you want ice water or hot water?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">谢谢，我 什么 都 不 要。</span> <br/> <span class="vert">ordering in a restaurant</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Xièxiè, wǒ shénme dōu bù yào.</span> <br/> Thank you. I don't need anything.</li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h3 id="想-xiǎng-as-to-miss"><span class="hanzist">想</span> (<span class="pinyinst">xiǎng</span>) as "to Miss"</h3>

  <p>Pay attention here: unlike "<span class="hanzi">想</span> (<span class="pinyin">xiǎng</span>) + Verb," the meaning of <span class="hanzi">想</span> (<span class="pinyin">xiǎng</span>) in the "<span class="hanzi">想 </span>(<span class="pinyin">xiǎng</span>) + Noun" pattern becomes "to miss."</p>

  <h4 id="structure-1">Structure</h4>

  <div class="deux">
    <p>Subj. + <span class="hanzist">想</span> + Noun = to miss</p>
  </div>

  <h4 id="examples-1">Examples</h4>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">我 想 你。</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiǎng nǐ.</span> <br/> I miss you.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我 有点 想 我 的 家人。</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Wǒ yǒudiǎn xiǎng wǒ de jiārén.</span> <br/> I sort of miss my family.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">你们 回 美国 以后， 会 想 中国菜 吗？</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Nǐmen huí Měiguó yǐhòu, huì xiǎng Zhōngguó cài ma?</span> <br/> Will you all miss Chinese food after you go back to the U.S.?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">你女朋友 不 在 的时候，你 会 想 她 吗？</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Nǐ nǚpéngyou bù zài de shíhou, nǐ huì xiǎng tā ma?</span> <br/> Do you miss your girlfriend when she is not around?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">妈妈 打 电话 的 时候 跟 我 说， 她 很 想 我。</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Māma dǎ diànhuà de shíhou gēn wǒ shuō, tā hěn xiǎng wǒ.</span> <br/> Mom called me and said she misses me a lot.</li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h2 id="followed-by-a-verb">Followed by a Verb</h2>

  <p><span class="hanzi">要</span> (<span class="pinyin">yào</span>) and <span class="hanzi">想</span> (<span class="pinyin">xiǎng</span>) have similar meanings when followed by verbs. The difference is rather subtle, but <span class="hanzi">要</span> (<span class="pinyin">yào</span>) can sound more urgent or demanding (sometimes even childish), while <span class="hanzi">想</span> (<span class="pinyin">xiǎng</span>) 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 <span class="hanzi">要</span> (<span class="pinyin">yào</span>); the word itself isn't rude.</p>

  <h3 id="要-yào-as-want-to"><span class="hanzist">要</span> (<span class="pinyinst">yào</span>) as "Want to"</h3>

  <h4 id="structure-2">Structure</h4>

  <p>It might help to think of <span class="hanzi">要</span> (<span class="pinyin">yào</span>) in this sense as meaning "<b>want to</b>" and <span class="hanzi">想</span> (<span class="pinyin">xiǎng</span>) as meaning "<b>would like to</b>."</p>

  <div class="deux">
    <p>Subj. + <span class="hanzist">要</span> + Verb</p>
  </div>

  <h4 id="examples-2">Examples</h4>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">我 要 休息 。</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Wǒ yào xiūxi.</span> <br/> I want to rest.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">你 也 要 回家 吗 ？</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Nǐ yě yào huíjiā ma?</span> <br/> Do you also want to go home?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">你们 要 喝 什么 ？</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Nǐmen yào hē shénme?</span> <br/> What do you want to drink?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我 要 帮 老板 做 完 这些 工作 。</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Wǒ yào bāng lǎobǎn zuò wán zhèxiē gōngzuò.</span> <br/> I want to help the boss finish this work.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">大家 晚上 要 不 要 出去 吃 ？</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Dàjiā wǎnshang yào bu yào chūqù chī?</span> <br/> Does everyone want to go out to eat tonight?</li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h3 id="想-xiǎng-as-would-like-to"><span class="hanzist">想</span> (<span class="pinyinst">xiǎng</span>) as "Would Like to"</h3>

  <h4 id="structure-3">Structure</h4>

  <p>It might help to think of <span class="hanzi">想</span> (<span class="pinyin">xiǎng</span>) as meaning "<b>would like to</b>" instead of "<b>want to</b>." In English, as well, "<b>would like to</b>" feels more indirect, and thus less demanding and more more polite.</p>

  <div class="deux">
    <p>Subj. + <span class="hanzist">想</span> + Verb</p>
  </div>

  <h4 id="examples-3">Examples</h4>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">你 想 去 吗 ？</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Nǐ xiǎng qù ma?</span> <br/> Would you like to go?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我 不 想 见 她 。</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Wǒ bù xiǎng jiàn tā.</span> <br/> I wouldn't like to see her.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">周末 你们 想 看 电影 吗 ？</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Zhōumò nǐmen xiǎng kàn diànyǐng ma?</span> <br/> Would you like to see a movie this weekend?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我 想 请 你 吃饭 。</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiǎng qǐng nǐ chīfàn.</span> <br/> I'd like to treat you to dinner.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">他们 春节 不 想 回家 吗 ？</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Tāmen Chūnjié bù xiǎng huíjiā ma?</span> <br/> Don't they want to go back home for Spring Festival?</li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h3 id="要-yào-as-going-to"><span class="hanzist">要</span> (<span class="pinyinst">yào</span>) as "Going to"</h3>

  <p><span class="hanzi">要</span> is used to indicate plans for the near future, much like "<b>going to</b>" in English. <span class="hanzi">想 </span>(<span class="pinyin">xiǎng</span>) is not used in this way.</p>

  <h4 id="structure-4">Structure</h4>

  <div class="deux">
    <p>Subj. + <span class="hanzist">要</span> + Verb</p>
  </div>

  <h4 id="examples-4">Examples</h4>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">星期六 我 要 去 北京。</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Xīngqīliù wǒ yào qù Běijīng.</span> <br/> I'm going to Beijing on Saturday.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">下 个 月 她 要 找 新 工作。</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Xià gè yuè tā yào zhǎo xīn gōngzuò.</span> <br/> She is going to look for a new job next month.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">这个 周末 你们 要 出去 玩 吗？</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Zhège zhōumò nǐmen yào chūqù wán ma?</span> <br/> Are you going out partying this weekend?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">结婚 以后，你 要 跟 父母 住 在 一起 吗？</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Jiéhūn yǐhòu, nǐ yào gēn nǐ fùmǔ zhù zài yīqǐ ma?</span> <br/> Are you going to live together with your parents after you get married?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">生 完 孩子 以后，你 太太 要 回去 工作 吗？</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Shēng wán háizi yǐhòu, nǐ tàitai yào huíqù gōngzuò ma?</span> <br/> Is your wife going back to work after she finishes giving birth to the baby?</li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h2 id="想要-xiǎngyào-as-want"><span class="hanzist">想要</span> (<span class="pinyinst">xiǎngyào</span>) as "Want"</h2>

  <h3 id="structure-5">Structure</h3>

  <p>You can put <span class="hanzi">要</span> (<span class="pinyin">yào</span>) and <span class="hanzi">想</span> (<span class="pinyin">xiǎng</span>) together to make the word <span class="hanzi">想要</span> (<span class="pinyin">xiǎngyào</span>), which means "<b>to want</b>." You can put either nouns or verbs after it.</p>

  <div class="deux">
    <p>Subj. + <span class="hanzist">想要</span> + Noun I Verb</p>
  </div>

  <h3 id="examples-5">Examples</h3>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">你 想要 几 个 孩子 ？</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Nǐ xiǎngyào jǐ gè háizi?</span> <br/> How many kids do you want to have?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我 老婆 总是 想要 最 贵 的 包。</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Wǒ lǎopo zǒngshì xiǎngyào zuì guì de bāo.</span> <br/> My wife always wants the most expensive bags.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">她 想要 找 一 个 有钱 的 男朋友 。</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Tā xiǎngyào zhǎo yī gè yǒuqián de nánpéngyou.</span> <br/> She wants to find a rich boyfriend.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">你们 为什么 想要 离开 北京 ？</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Nǐmen wèishénme xiǎngyào líkāi Běijīng?</span> <br/> Why do you all want to leave Beijing?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">他 想要 帮 你 找 一 个 更好 的 工作。</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Tā xiǎngyào bāng nǐ zhǎo yī gè gèng hǎo de gōngzuò.</span> <br/> He wants to help you find a better job.</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="&quot;Would_like_to&quot;_with_xiang" title="wikilink">"Would like to" with xiang</a></li>

    <li><a href="Auxiliary_verb_&quot;yao&quot;_and_its_multiple_meanings" title="wikilink">Auxiliary verb "yao" and its multiple meanings</a></li>

    <li><a href="Negative_commands_with_&quot;bu_yao&quot;" title="wikilink">Negative commands with "bu yao"</a></li>

    <li><a href="Expressing_determination_with_&quot;feiyao&quot;" 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>Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 154-5)</li>
  </ul>
</body>
</html>