Modal Verbs - 想、要
能愿动词 — 想、要
The modal verbs 想 and 要 express desire or intention. 想 is softer (want to, think of), 要 is direct and determined (want, must, going to do).
Structure
Subject + 想 / 要 + Verb
Elements
想要
How to use it
- 想 for a desire, a wish: 我想去中国 (I want to go to China).
- 要 for a firm will or need: 我要一杯水 (I want a glass of water).
- 不想 = do not want; 不要 = do not want / prohibition (do not do).
Examples
他想出一个好主意。
tā xiǎng chū yī gè hǎo zhǔyi。
He had a good idea.
我要一杯水。
wǒ yào yī bēizi shuǐ。
I want a glass of water.
我想去中国。
wǒ xiǎng qù Zhōngguó。
I would like to go to China.
你想吃什么？
nǐ xiǎng chī shénme？
What do you want to eat?
Notes and exceptions
- 想 is polite and soft, appropriate for expressing a wish.
- 不要 can also serve as a negative imperative: 不要说话！ (Do not speak!).
- 想 expresses rather an intention, a desire or a thought.
- 要 is generally more direct (will, need, imperative imminent).
- 想 : want; think. The word "think" in Chinese is used to express various forms of reflection, such as thinking of something, conceiving an idea, thinking about something.
- 要 : want; must. The character 要 (yào) is used to express desire, necessity, or imperative.
Common mistakes
- 想 for desires, 要 for possibilities: choose according to the register.
- 不要 at the beginning of a sentence = prohibition, not just "do not want".
Practice quiz
Choose the best option for each sentence, then submit to view the correction.
1. 他____出一个好主意。
(He had a good idea.)
2. 我____一杯水。
(I want a glass of water.)
3. 我____去中国。
(I would like to go to China.)
4. 你____吃什么？
(What do you want to eat?)