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<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="&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><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&amp;tag=allset-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=0887276385">
→buy</a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="Category:grammar_comparison" title=
"wikilink">Category:grammar comparison</a></p>
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