Chinese Grammar: Know the difference between 想 & 要

Maybe you're like Nincha and Lupishu who both love traveling? When you're on the road, it’s important to know how to express oneself. Imagine one day you arrive at a restaurant, so hungry you're on the verge of passing out but you don’t know how to express what you want?! Terrible, right?

Don’t worry now~ we’ve got you covered with this lesson that will show you two key verbs that work wonders to express that you want something: 想 and 要.

Express wanting to do something

In Chinese, if you want to express the desire to do something, you can use these two words: 想 (xiǎng) and 要 (yào), which both mean “to want”. Both are auxiliary verbs, which means they are always placed before the main verb in the sentence to express feelings, obligation or willingness to do something. Kind of like “must”, “can” or “want” in English.

Structure

Subject + 想/要 + Verb + Object

Examples

我想去 看 电影。
I want to go watch a movie.

我要去 看 电影。
I want to go watch a movie. (I'm going to go watch a movie).

我想吃饭。
I want to eat.

我要一 杯 橙汁。
I want an orange juice. (here “要” is used to order a drink)

我想和 你 一起 去。
I want to go with you.

我要和 你 一起 去。
I will go with you.

As you can see from these examples, 想 and 要 have close meanings and can be used in the same kind of sentences. However, learning the slight differences in meaning between the two will help you know when to use one or the other properly.

Using 想 to express that you want

想 is like an idea that comes to your mind. You can use 想 when you want to show your intention or your desire. 想 doesn’t mean that you’ll do it right away, though. It’s more like “would like to do”.

Examples

我想去 北京。
I’d like to go to Beijing.

我想吃 面条。
I’d like to eat noodles.

The other meanings of 想

想 has also two other meanings, which will help you get a better idea of what 想 is all about:

• It can also mean “to think”

你想对了。
What you thought was right.

仔细想 一 想。
Think about it carefully.

• And “to miss”.

我想我 妈妈。
I miss my mom.

我想你。
I miss you.

Have you noticed in the examples that although you are able to express your “want” and your opinion with 想, it’s not very forceful or powerful? To show you have a strong desire to do something and want to set your foot down t you can try using 要 instead to say you WANT this.

Expressing “want” with 要

要 means want, but it is more powerful than 想.

要 is used when someone wants to do something, plans on doing it, and it will be done right away. Its meaning is closer to “need”, bordering on “demand” and "order", so, depending on the context, it can sound less polite.

Examples

我要回家。
I want to go home. (I WANT/ need - to go home)

我要你 回答。
I want you to answer. (I need/demand you answer)

我要你 过来。
I want you to come over. ( I need/ order you to come over)

我要一 杯 橙汁。
I want an orange juice.

Note: In this sentence, “要” means “order”, and is what you use to want to ask and order food and drinks in a restaurant. And when you want to ask someone what they want to drink, also use 要such as 你 要 喝 点 什么？

Not wanting with 想 or 要

If you want to say you don't want to do something or don't want something, simply add "不" before 想 or 要... Keep in mind 不 always goes before 想 or 要and not in front of the main verb. That's always the case in Chinese: when you want to show a negative mood, you modify the auxiliary word that’s placed before the verb, such as 想 or 要 here.

Structure

Subject + 不 想/不要 + Verb + Object

Examples

我不想走。
I don’t want to leave.

我不要你 走。
I don’t want you to leave.

我不想吃 苹果。
I don’t want to eat an apple.

我不要喝 可乐。
I don't want to drink cola.

我不要你 回答。
I don’t want you to answer. (I don’t need you to answer)

So there you have it, two useful verbs to say that you want something! So how about it? Do you want to go practice using them now?

Depending on the context, 要 can sound a little impolite. Remember to add a “please/thanks” when you use the word “要” to demand or order something. Even with your family or friends, it can make the relationship with others easier. For example:我 要 一 杯 咖啡，谢谢。I want a cup of coffee, please / thanks. As you can see, this makes the mood more relaxed, doesn't it?