想(xiǎng) vs 要(yào) vs 想要(xiǎngyào)

想 vs 要 vs 想要

 

想 (xiǎng)

1. 想 as a modal verb is usually used before a verb to express a hope or plan. It’s more like “to want to do” “would like to do”.

Subject + 想 + verb + object

e.g.

学汉语。(Wǒ xiǎng xué hànyǔ.) I want to learn Chinese.

去超市买水果。(Wǒ xiǎng qù chāoshì mǎi shuǐguǒ.) I want to go to the supermarket to buy fruit.

 

2. 想 as a verb, it could indicate “think” “think about”.

e.g.

我们先想一想。(Wǒmen xiān xiǎng yī xiǎng.) Let’s think about it first.

他在一个问题。(Tā zài xiǎng yīgè wèntí.) He was thinking about a question.

3. 想 as a verb, it could indicate “miss”.

e.g.

你。(Wǒ xiǎng nǐ.) I miss you.

要 (yào)

1. 要 as an auxiliary verb is used before a verb to indicate the desire to do something. This is more powerful and resolute than 想.

Subject + 要 + verb + object

e.g.

现在吃饭,太饿了。(Wǒ yào xiànzài chīfàn, tài è le.) I want to eat now, I’m so hungry.

买一个电脑,旧电脑坏了。(Wǒ yāomǎi yīgè diànnǎo, jiù diànnǎo huàile.) I need to buy a computer. The old computer is broken.

The negative form is usually “不想”.

e.g.

A:我吃午饭,你呢?(Wǒ yào chī wǔfàn, nǐ ne?) I want to have lunch, how about you?

B:我不想吃午饭。(Wǒ bùxiǎng chī wǔfàn.) I don’t want to have lunch.

2. 要 as a verb also means “to need/demand to do something”, as in “需要”.

e.g.

我明天去北京出差。(Wǒ míngtiān yào qù Běijīng chūchāi.) I need to go to Beijing on a business trip tomorrow.

生病了? 你多休息。(Shēngbìngle? Nǐ yào duō xiūxi.) Did you get sick? You need to rest more.

3. 要 as a verb could be used as a predicate and put before the object, “to want something” “to ask for something”.

Subject + 要 + object

e.g.

一碗面条,谢谢。(Wǒ yào yī wǎn miàntiáo, xièxie.) I want a bowl of noodles, thank you.

The negative form is “不要”.

e.g.

面条,不要米饭。(Wǒ yào miàntiáo, bùyào mǐfàn.) I want noodles, not rice.

4. 要 could indicate “to take time” “to cost money”.

e.g.

做饭一个小时。(Zuò fàn yào yīgè xiǎoshí.) It takes an hour to cook.

这个电脑5000块。(Zhège diànnǎo yào 5000 kuài.) This computer costs 5000 yuan.

5. 要 could indicate that something is going to happen.

e.g.

听说明天下雨。(Tīng shuō míng tiān yào xià yǔ.) I heard that it will rain tomorrow.

别骂他了,他生气了。(Bié mà tāle, tā yào shēngqìle.) Stop scolding him, he is going to be angry.

想要 (xiǎng yào)

想要, the “想” is a modal verb and “要” is a verb here, which means “think about wanting something” or “would like to want or have something”.

When asking for something, 想要 is more polite than direct 要.

e.g.

想要和你聊一聊。(Wǒ xiǎng yào hé nǐ liáo yī liáo.) I want to have a chat with you.

想要一杯啤酒。(Wǒ xiǎng yào yībēi píjiǔ.) I want a cup of beer.

1. 让我 ___ 一下再告诉你。(Ràng wǒ ___ yīxià zài gàosù nǐ.)
A.
B.
C.
2. 新年 ___ 到了,你准备去哪儿玩儿?(Xīnnián ___ dào le, nǐ zhǔnbèi qù nǎr wánr?)
A.
B.
C.
3. 这本书 ___ 100块钱。(Zhè běn shū ___ 100 kuài qián.)
A.
B.
C.
4. 我 ___ 他应该不知道这个字怎么读。(Wǒ ___ tā yīnggāi bù zhīdào zhège zì zěnme dú.)
A.
B.
C.
5. 玛丽去北京旅游了,我很 ___ 她。(Mǎlì qù běijīng lǚyóu le, wǒ hěn ___ tā.)
A.
B.
C.
6. 听说明天你 ___ 去中国了?(Tīng shuōmíng tiān nǐ ___ qù zhōngguóle?)
A.
B.
C.
7. 我离开家很久了,我很 ___ 我的家人。(Wǒ líkāi jiā hěnjiǔle, wǒ hěn ___ wǒ de jiārén.)
A.
B.
C.

 

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