Difference between revisions of "Wanting to do something with "yao""
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In Chinese, 要 (yào), the verb "to want" doesn't quite function like the English. It means "want to" (like 想), but it's tone is very firm, such it can sound more like "going to" (like 会), an intention. It's specific meaning often depends on context.
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{{Grammar Box}}
  
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Some examples:
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The [[auxiliary verb]] 要 (yào) has [[Auxiliary verb "yao" and its multiple meanings|several different meanings]], and here we'll tackle the "want to" meaning. To express "wanting to do" something, use 要 (yào) before the verb.
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== Structure ==
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The verb 要 (yào) can be used as an [[auxiliary verb]] to indicate ''wanting to do'' something.
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<div class="jiegou">
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Subj. + 要 + Verb + Obj.
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</div>
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== Examples ==
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
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* 我 <em>要</em> 吃饭。 <span class="expl">(I want to eat, more of a desire)</span>
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* 他 <em>要</em> 学 中文。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>yào</em> xué Zhōngwén.</span><span class="trans">He wants to study Chinese.</span>
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* 我 明天 <em>要</em> 走 了。  <span class="expl">(I'm going to leave tomorrow, more of an intention)</span>
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* 宝宝 <em>要</em> 睡觉。<span class="pinyin">Bǎobao <em>yào</em> shuìjiào.</span><span class="trans">The baby wants to sleep.</span>
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* 他 <em>要</em> 学习 中文。
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* 早饭 我 <em>要</em> 吃 肉。<span class="pinyin">Zǎofàn wǒ <em>yào</em> chī ròu.</span><span class="trans">For breakfast I want to eat meat.</span>
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* 她 <em>要</em> 去 酒吧。
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* 今天 很 累，我 <em>要</em> 休息。<span class="pinyin">Jīntiān hěn lèi, wǒ <em>yào</em> xiūxi.</span><span class="trans"> Today I'm very tired. I want to rest.</span>
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* 这 个 周末 你们 <em>要</em> 做什么？<span class="pinyin"> Zhège zhōumò nǐmen <em>yào</em> zuò shénme?</span><span class="trans">This weekend what do you want to do?</span>
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</div>
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== 要 (yào) and 想 (xiǎng) ==
  
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</div>
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Instead of using 要 (yào), it is also possible to use the word 想 (xiǎng). These two words are largely interchangeable, and both can mean "to want." The small difference is that 要 (yào) is often used for something you want to or ''need'' to do, and ''plan to take action on''. It can sound a bit more demanding (and less polite). 想 (xiǎng) on the other hand, often conveys an idea on one's mind, that one ''may or may not take action on''. You can think of it as meaning "would like to."
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=== Examples ===
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<div class="liju">
  
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Note that if the speaker wishes to say "I'd like to", [["Would like to" with xiang|想]] can be used instead of 要. Mixing up 想 and 要 is a big problem for learners of Chinese.
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* 我 <em>要</em> 喝 咖啡 。 <span class="expl">I am going to get my hands on some coffee</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yào</em> hē kāfēi.</span><span class="trans">I want to drink coffee.</span>
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* 我 <em>想</em> 喝 咖啡 。 <span class="expl">I want to drink a cup of coffee, but may or may not act on that</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>xiǎng</em> hē kāfēi.</span><span class="trans">I'd like to drink coffee.</span>
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* 你 <em>要</em> 吃 什么 ？ <span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>yào</em> chī shénme?</span><span class="trans">What do you want to eat?</span>
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* 你 <em>想</em> 吃 什么 ？ <span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>xiǎng</em> chī shénme?</span><span class="trans">What would you like to eat?</span>
  
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</div>
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
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*[["Would like to" with xiang]]
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*[["Would like to" with "xiang"]]
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*[[Comparing "yao" and "xiang"]]
 
*[[Auxiliary verb "hui" for "will"]]
 
*[[Auxiliary verb "hui" for "will"]]
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== Sources and Further Reading ==
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 2|4}}
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|231}}
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{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)|179-80}}
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{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed)|207}}
  
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
 
[[Category:Verbs]]
 
[[Category:Verbs]]
 
[[Category:Auxiliary verbs]]
 
[[Category:Auxiliary verbs]]
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{{Used for|Expressing desires}}
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{{Used for|Expressing determination}}
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{{Used for|Referring to the future}}
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{{Used for|Expressing purpose}}
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{{Basic Grammar|要|A1|要 + Verb|我 <em>要</em> 吃饭 。|grammar point|ASGXVEAR}}
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{{Similar|"Would like to" with xiang}}   
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{{Similar|Auxiliary verb "hui" for "will"}}
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{{Similar|Auxiliary verb "yao" and its multiple meanings}}
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{{Similar|Basic sentence order}}   
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{{Similar|Time words and word order}}
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{{Similar|"Yinggai" for should}}
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{{Similar|"Must" modal "dei"}}   
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{{Similar|Expressing Future with "jiang"}}
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{{POS|Verbs}}
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{{Subprop|Auxiliary verbs}}
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{{Translation|want}}

Latest revision as of 08:57, 21 April 2021

The auxiliary verb 要 (yào) has several different meanings, and here we'll tackle the "want to" meaning. To express "wanting to do" something, use 要 (yào) before the verb.

Structure

The verb 要 (yào) can be used as an auxiliary verb to indicate wanting to do something.

Subj. + 要 + Verb + Obj.

Examples

  • 他 要 学 中文。Tā yào xué Zhōngwén.He wants to study Chinese.
  • 宝宝 要 睡觉。Bǎobao yào shuìjiào.The baby wants to sleep.
  • 早饭 我 要 吃 肉。Zǎofàn wǒ yào chī ròu.For breakfast I want to eat meat.
  • 今天 很 累，我 要 休息。Jīntiān hěn lèi, wǒ yào xiūxi. Today I'm very tired. I want to rest.
  • 这 个 周末 你们 要 做什么？ Zhège zhōumò nǐmen yào zuò shénme?This weekend what do you want to do?

要 (yào) and 想 (xiǎng)

Instead of using 要 (yào), it is also possible to use the word 想 (xiǎng). These two words are largely interchangeable, and both can mean "to want." The small difference is that 要 (yào) is often used for something you want to or need to do, and plan to take action on. It can sound a bit more demanding (and less polite). 想 (xiǎng) on the other hand, often conveys an idea on one's mind, that one may or may not take action on. You can think of it as meaning "would like to."

Examples

  • 我 要 喝 咖啡 。 I am going to get my hands on some coffeeWǒ yào hē kāfēi.I want to drink coffee.
  • 我 想 喝 咖啡 。 I want to drink a cup of coffee, but may or may not act on thatWǒ xiǎng hē kāfēi.I'd like to drink coffee.
  • 你 要 吃 什么 ？ Nǐ yào chī shénme?What do you want to eat?
  • 你 想 吃 什么 ？ Nǐ xiǎng chī shénme?What would you like to eat?

See also

Sources and Further Reading

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