ChineseGrammarWiki/ancien/Chinese-Grammar-Wiki/MD/A2/59.mw

{{Grammar Box}} 

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]]. 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: [[Standard negation with "bu"|use 不 (bù) to negate]] 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]]

== Sources and Further Reading ==

=== Books ===

* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 112-3)　[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]
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)]] (pp. 179-80) [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 →buy]
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed)]] (pp. 207) [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 →buy]

===Websites===
* Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary: [http://comet.cls.yale.edu/chineseusagedictionary/0133.html The Uses of 想]

[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
{{Used for|Expressing desires}}
{{Used for|Expressing purpose}}
{{Basic Grammar|想|A2|想 + Verb|我 <em>想</em> 去。|grammar point|ASGT97VF}}
{{Similar|Wanting to do something with yao}}
{{Similar|Expressing "be going to" with "yao"}}
{{Similar|"Yinggai" for should}}
{{Similar|"Must" modal "dei"}}
{{POS|Verbs}}
{{Subprop|Auxiliary verbs}}
{{Translation|would}}
{{Translation|like}}
{{Translation|want}}