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  [["Would like to" with xiang|想]]), but it's tone is very firm, such it can sound more like "going to" (like [[Auxiliary verb "hui" for "will"|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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